It’s a battle at the wrong end of the ladder as Fury look to remain unbeaten in all three…
Wednesday 15th December 8:00pm
It-s a battle at the wrong end of the ladder as Fury look to remain unbeaten in all three games against last season-s Champions. Be there!
It was a while back now, but it seems even longer ago that North Queensland Fury beat Sydney FC to make it four points from a possible six at the start of the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season.
At the time, it seemed like quite the scalp, beating last season-s Champions, and suggested that it was going to be a great season for Fury. Who-d would have known that, not only would Sydney remain at the wrong end of the ladder throughout the entire first half of the season, but that the Tropical Green-s slide down the ladder would be quite so spectacular?
Back in August, it was Dyron Daal that was the hero, grabbing an 83rd minute winner after Scott Jamieson-s header a minute earlier had equalised Chris Grossman-s 65th minute strike.
Fifteen games on, and points are few and far between for Franz Straka-s side. However, while they find themselves at the wrong end of the table, they are remarkably still just a couple of wins away from putting themselves in contention for a Grand Final spot.
In recent weeks, they have shown signs of improvement, not least from that magnificent win at Skilled Park a couple of weeks back, and there is every chance they can pick up another win against a side that has continued to find life hard since that early-season loss at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
In a Hyundai A-League season that has been a struggle from the get-go, perhaps Sydney FC-s biggest problem has been their poor away form. The Sky Blues have only managed a solitary win on their travels so far, against a Perth Glory side that were at their lowest ebb.
Other than that, it has been slim pickings on the road, as disappointing defeat has followed disappointing defeat. While their recent home run has kept them very much in contention for a Grand Final spot, their away record constantly threatens to derail their hopes. Over their last three games on the road, they have picked up just one point and scored a single goal.
If they are to sneak into the top six on the blind side, they seriously need to start picking up points away from Sydney Football Stadium, and soon.
While Franz Straka will be disappointed that Chris Payne is leaving for Newcastle at the end of the season, he-ll still be demanding a big contribution from the striker all the time he is wearing the green, and he-ll hope to have him fit to face his former club on Wednesday night.
A trip to Dairy Farmers Stadium certainly represents an opportunity to do that, but, equally, the Green Army will be looking at this match-up as a chance to drag Sydney back into the mire.
This game is absolutely crucial to both sides and will go some way to shaping the remainder of their seasons, so be sure to secure a ticket today and prepare your lungs for non-stop noise for ninety minutes. It going to be a cracker!
