Adelaide United will be looking to get its season back on track by putting the brakes on North Queensland Fury’s recent momentum when the teams meet at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville on Sunday.
Heading into Sunday’s encounter against a Fury side that is rapidly growing in confidence, United Captain Travis Dodd knows the Reds must bounce back quickly if they are to keep in touching distance with the top four.
The Fury are unbeaten in four games, notching up six points in the process including its maiden Hyundai A-League win with an eye-catching 1-0 victory over Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium.
It is no coincidence that the Fury’s recent form has come with marquee signing Robbie Fowler finding his feet in Australia, the former Liverpool and England star with four goals next to his name from the opening seven rounds.
United on the other hand have struggled for goals this season, and Dodd will be hoping the tropics of North Queensland can bring a change of fortune and help to reinvigorate the squad.
“Two wins out of five games at home (in the opening seven rounds), it’s not good enough,” Dodd said after the loss to the Victory.
“We need to get our act together quick smart because it’s getting to that stage now, where every game is becoming a crunch game for us.”
“We need to sort ourselves out in front of goal and we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. The goals will come, we just need someone to get the first one.”
In arguably the tightest Hyundai A-League season so far, Dodd’s call that every game and result is becoming a ‘crunch game’ could not be more prevalent as just seven points separates all ten teams.
Dodd’s sentiments are shared by Coach Aurelio Vidmar, who says the Reds need to improve their conviction in front of goal.
“We just need to really sharpen up in that area, and it’s not easy so we’ve just got to keep plugging away,” Vidmar said.
“There is still a lot of the season to play, you’ve just got to continue to believe, not lose confidence and keep working hard.”
