Words: Simon Smale & Michael Flynn
Image: Chris Simpson

Brisbane City skipper Timothy Allen says both he and his side need to improve on last weekend’s scrappy win if they are to prevail in Saturday night’s ‘Clash of Two Cities’.

Brisbane City ended a run of two successive defeats last round in Ingham with a 3-2 win over bottom of the table Northern Fury – claiming the points on the back of a late goal to Mitchell Hore.

However, Allen was unhappy with some aspects of the performance and acknowledges more will be required against the in-form Gold Coast City this weekend.

“It was probably quite an exciting game to watch, but we didn't play as well as we hoped and expected to,” Allen explained of the win over Fury.

“Luckily we clinched it at the end, but we’re not going to look back in a few months and remember it wasn't the prettiest game, we’ll just take the three points.”

Allen added that he was not at his best against Fury – with his performance marred by a scuffed clearance that directly lead to Fury’s second goal of the night.

“To be honest, my performances over the last couple of weeks haven't been at the sort of level either myself or the club expects.” he conceded.

“I’m just trying to put my head down and really focus on getting my performance back up the expected standards and hopefully it’ll go back to being my job to dig us out of holes as opposed to the boys digging me out of them.”

He will find no better test than this weekend’s clash against Gold Coast City, who are on a six match unbeaten run and top the competition in goals scored following last week’s seven goal return against SWQ Thunder.

However, Allen sought to downplay the threat posed by their upcoming opponents, despite injury and suspensions meaning Brisbane City’s back four remains shrouded in mystery.

“We don't look at them as being anything special, they are just another team in the league as far as we are concerned.”

“We just have to perform as well as we can, prepare as well as we can and I trust that that will be enough for us to get us over the line.”

“I've got trust in all the guys that we have so to me it doesn’t really matter who’s on the park, I trust that we can all do the job,” he concluded.

A win for Allen’s team will see them return to the top four for the first time since Round 5.

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 8

Saturday, April 23
Brisbane City FC v Gold Coast City FC
Corporate Travel Management Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off at 6:30PM