Strikers Not Feeling Pressure
Words: Michael Flynn & Steve Pitman
Image: Getty Images
Brisbane Strikers coach Kevin A’herne-Evans believes his side won’t be prisoners to pressure against Sunshine Coast FC on Sunday.
Strikers continue to jostle with Moreton Bay United in the hunt for the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2015 Premiership, with Jets edging into top spot midweek on goal difference.
Adding extra spice to Strikers to the clash against their former Queensland State League rivals is the homecoming for a trio of former Fire stars, including A'herne-Evans, who both played and coached at the club.
However, despite these sub-plots, A’herne-Evans said the key to securing a vital three points is to treat the contest as they would any other.
“There is no real pressure. We’ve had the approach all season in terms of we’ll go out and try to make sure that we put in a certain type of performance and the result will look after itself,” A’herne-Evans explained.
History is on the visitor's side, with Fire recording just one win in the club's previous five PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland meetings.
Strikers will also be boosted by inside knowledge of the surface and the local conditions courtesy of returning defenders Greig Henslee and Sam Knight.
“It’s something that we used to talk about a lot in terms of the approach,” A’Hern-Evans explained.
“Like areas of the pitch to strike the ball towards in making a certain type of clearance, or if you are attacking a certain goal, which side of the field has been statistically proven to score more goals and the reasons why – there’s all those elements that you can put into it”.
“But ultimately it’s about going out there and earning the right to win the game.”
A’herne-Evans further suggested that loyalties may even be divided for some locals by the return of the highly regarded Henslee and Knight.
“I think we’ll be quite surprised that it might be the first time the Strikers go up there and have more support than the Fire.”
“That’s how popular they were to the team, to the group and to the area.”
But he was quick to clarify the duo won’t be distracted from the task at hand.
“They are top professionals. They both, as individuals, don’t tend to focus too much on who they are playing against and getting involved in it emotionally,” he concluded.
Fixture details:
Sunshine Coast FC v Brisbane Strikers FC
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Sunday, August 23rd
Kick-off at 2:00PM
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