Strikers Defence Key To Cup Advance
Words: Steve Pitman & Michael Flynn
Image: Albert Perez/Football Queensland
Brisbane Strikers defender Greig Henslee believes his team’s defensive strength is key to their quest to advance to the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 for a third straight year.
Strikers travel to third-tier Flight Centre Premier League powerhouse Lions FC safe in the knowledge they have kept nine clean sheets in their past ten outings.
A win for Strikers will see them become the second and final team from the Metropolitan Qualifying Zone to reach the national stage of the competition.
Henslee said the consistency and resilience of the team’s defence will be crucial in the do-or-die cup setting where goals are always at a premium.
“I never feel like we’re going to get overrun by anyone,” Henslee stated.
“(Coach) Kevin A’Herne-Evans is massive on working hard when we don’t have the ball and putting the opposition under pressure. So I never really feel like we are going to concede in open play.”
Henslee added that with the potential to draw an Hyundai A-League side in a lucrative home tie in the Round of 32 he expects no quarter to be given by his opponents.
“It’s one of the biggest challenges of the year so far - it’s a mid-season grand final,” he explained.
“It’s certainly one that everyone around Brisbane wanted. You’ve got the top team in the BPL and one of the top teams in the NPL.”
He added, “We all respect Lions and we all respect the FFA Cup – it’s a big game and there’s no getting away from that fact.”
However, Henslee was quick to say he didn’t believe Lion’s home ground advantage would be the decisive factor.
“They have good facilities there, good lights, good turf and there’s going to be a good crowd there so I don’t think the home and away (factor) is going to have too much effect on the final outcome,” he concluded.
Strikers are expected to field a full-strength side for the match, with the exception of cup-tied mid-season attacking recruit Rhys Duncan.
The sides met earlier this year in the pre-season BLK Silver Boot Final – with Lions taking the psychological edge from that clash with a 2-1 win.
Westfield FFA Cup 2016 – Preliminary Round 7
Lions FC v Brisbane Strikers FC
Sunday, June 5 | 5:00PM
Lions Stadium, Brisbane
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