One win has given Gold Coast United players hope and if they can parlay that into two straight against the struggling Brisbane Roar, confidence may not be far behind.
The smiles are finally back in the Gold Coast United dressing room.
Barely a fortnight ago the boys from the glitter strip were down in the dumps and in the midst of a horror five-match run of defeats.
As any footballer will attest, when confidence drops, losing can quite quickly and easily develop into an unwanted habit – and United were stuck in a downward spiral.
But since grabbing their first win in seven weeks – and just their second for the entire season over Adelaide, the doom and gloom has evaporated.
“It’s almost like we’re not bottom of the ladder anymore,” said Dutch striker Maceo Rigters, who scored a pearler from distance against the Reds – the first time he’s found the back of the net since October.
“But we are, and we have to be realistic. We have a big game on Boxing Day and we’re looking forward to that.”
Calling their meeting with Brisbane Roar at Skilled Park a ‘big game’ is perhaps a slight understatement – the annual Boxing Day derby is meant to be the most important home-and-away fixture in south east Queensland football.
Aside from the implications of the fledgling rivalry, both sides are in desperate need of a win – and for different reasons.
While United will want to carry on their momentum and start building something this season, the men in orange need a win to dodge history.
If the Roar fall to Gold Coast, it’ll be their fifth loss in a row, a club record they would be desperate to avoid setting.
“Everybody’s surprised by their form, but that’s football,” Rigters said.
“They’re a bit shaky because they lost a few. But they still play good football.
“They’ve been unlucky too, so we can’t think that because they’re losing and we won, it’s going to be easy.”
At least the former Blackburn marksman can head into the match relieved, having lifted a massive weight off his shoulders with his thunderbolt against Adelaide.
The dangerous Rigters has invariably been the man his teammates have turned to when United have been in need of a spark up front.
But he admits his job has been made easier with the continued rise of young guns Ben Halloran and James Brown.
“It was Benny who gave me that assist and he’s doing very well. After that Browny gave me the same ball, too,” Rigters said.
“I think Ben’s played almost every game this season and every week he’s getting better. I’m very happy about that – he’s more confident and comfortable in his runs. He’s so quick, he can beat anyone (for pace).
“We’re getting to know each other better every week and that’s a positive thing.”
