North Queensland coach Ian Ferguson will be hoping lightning strikes twice when the Fury travel to Sydney this weekend, the scene of the fledgling club’s first Hyundai A-League win.
In a big match for both sides on Saturday night, Sydney is looking to break a three-match losing streak while Ferguson will be aiming to build on North Queensland’s 2-1 win over Adelaide last weekend.
Although the Fury were humbled 5-1 by Central Coast just a fortnight ago, the club can still win its fourth match from the last six if it takes the points against Sydney, although Ferguson certainly isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“They’re a good team,” warned Ferguson. “They’ll be hurting.”
“They’ve got players that can hurt you any time, so we have to be very wary of them.”
“The keys are that we defend well to start with,” added Ferguson who is more than aware the Sky Blues have not won a single match this campaign after going behind.
“And also that we don’t make silly mistakes and we contain the ball the same as we did against Adelaide, especially in the first 60 minutes.”
“I thought we were fantastic (in that period) and played some really decent stuff and it was pleasing to watch.”
Ferguson would also have been a relieved man watching his team click into gear, particularly after the Mariners debacle forced the coach into numerous changes.
Seasoned defender Karl Dodd was replaced by Queensland State League player Matt Smith, on a short-term injury loan for Shane Stefanutto, who slotted into the back four with aplomb.
Ferguson was also particularly happy with a new-look midfield set-up that was forced on him by a season-ending knee injury to James Robinson.
The coach, though, was able to bring in former Premier League player Terry Cooke on another short-term deal as Robinson’s replacement, the journeyman combining well with Robbie Middleby, David Williams and rising star Rostyn Griffiths across the middle as they fed Daniel McBreen and Robbie Fowler up front.
Former Sydney man Middleby, though, knows his ex-team-mates are desperate for a win as the text messages have apparently been flying thick and fast between the harbour city and North Queensland over the week.
But another former Sydney man, goalkeeper Justin Pasfield, is more concerned with the flying feet of forwards Alex Brosque, Mark Bridge and John Aloisi than their twitchy, texting thumbs.
“We’ve got a good record against Sydney which is good and luckily for us they’re not in a great patch themselves,” Pasfield said, having made a quality return to the side last week when he replaced Paul Henderson between the sticks.
“We’re really looking forward to going down there and giving them a shake-up.”
“(But) Bridge and Brosque are sneaky, you know. You’ve just got to be careful and make sure we close them down early and track their runs.”
“If we can stop them from getting the ball at their feet and be tight on them I think we’ll make life difficult for them down there.”
