Words: Steve Pitman & Michael Flynn
Image: Michele Pitman

A return of defensive fortitude is top priority for Brisbane Strikers coach Kevin A’herne-Evans ahead of this weekend’s clash against SWQ Thunder.

Strikers remain the league’s most miserly team with only 13 goals conceded ahead of their impending trip to Toowoomba.

But after conceding five goals in their past two league outings, A’herne-Evans is determined to stem the flow as the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2016 Premiership race nears the business end.

“A lot of the goals we’ve conceded actually come more from a lack of discipline at times when we are in possession of the ball, so that’s one of the biggest things that we’ve worked on this week,” A’herne-Evans said.

“We’ve dropped far too deep into our box too early and put pressure on our goalkeeper from balls into the box.”

“So that’s something that we’re addressing because conceding five goals in two games, for us, is not acceptable”.

Despite the second-placed Strikers sitting eight places ahead of their opponents, A’herne-Evans also dismissed suggestions of complacency despite his side’s perfect record of five straight wins against Thunder since their first meeting in 2014.

Thunder have also never scored against Strikers in that time.

However, A’herne-Evans explained Thunder’s returns this year against some of the league’s leading sides at their Clive Berghofer Stadium home ground proves they are not easy-beats.

“Every time I’ve gone up to Toowoomba it’s been a real grind,” A’herne-Evans admitted.

“You can ask the question about how Heat got on when they went up there this year, how Moreton Bay got on and how Redlands got on.”

“If you go up there with the wrong mindset and thinking that things are just going to happen for you, you are going to have a rude awakening”.

To that end, A’herne-Evans said he was toying with potential changes to his squad – with one eye on a busy run home, which will include a tricky Westfield FFA Cup away tie in the Northern Territory.

He cited Jonti Richter, Christopher Maher, Rees Duncan and Luke Marsh as players that may come into the selection frame.

“There is an element of needing to have a bit of a freshen up, however we’ve got to be mindful of the players that have got us into this position and the continuity that they have.”

He added, “We’ve got a big month coming up, knowing that over the next four or five weeks as a squad we are going to be tested to the max.”

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 16

SWQ Thunder FC v Brisbane Strikers FC
Saturday, July 2 | 5:00PM
Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba