diff --git a/spacy/ml/models/coref.py b/spacy/ml/models/coref.py
index 840066bc7..6f2408df5 100644
--- a/spacy/ml/models/coref.py
+++ b/spacy/ml/models/coref.py
@@ -459,11 +459,12 @@ def pairwise_product(bilinear, dropout, vecs: Floats2d, is_train):
     # around separately because the closure handles them.
     source, source_b = bilinear(vecs, is_train)
     target, target_b = dropout(vecs, is_train)
-    pw_prod = bilinear.ops.xp.matmul(source, target.T)
+    pw_prod = source @ target.T
 
     def backward(d_prod: Floats2d) -> Floats2d:
         dS = source_b(d_prod @ target)
-        dT = target_b(d_prod @ source)
+        #dT = target_b(d_prod @ source)
+        dT = target_b( (source.T @ d_prod).T )
         dX = dS + dT
         return dX