Narrow focus is the key for Markaj

GEELONG coach Gabriel Markaj isn’t worrying about the future.

He hasn’t even been worrying about today’s clash with Ballarat City, despite there being so much on the line.

His focus is narrowed. And he hopes that will help the Lions perform a miracle and finish inside the NPL2’s top six.

“I’m not even thinking about the next game. I’m taking it one week at a time and from one week, I take one day, and from one day I take one session and from one session I take it to one drill and from one drill I take it one pass at a time,” Markaj said. “That’s my way of working.” The maths for Markaj’s men is simple. They must win their final two games. The first away to Ballarat, the second at home to sixth-placed Brunswick City.

They’ve also got to hope Moreland City can secure, at worst, a draw against Brunswick today. A win would be ideal.

If those things happen, Geelong can leapfrog into the top six and will play in the second tier in 2020 in a restructured NPL competition.

Markaj said it was crucial his team took bottom-placed Ballarat City very seriously.

“It’s a good opportunity for them as well to get three points. They've been doing quite well in the last four games and they got a good draw last week,” he said.

“They are a good side that plays a good brand of football. I have to give credit to them, it’s not going to be easy.”

Markaj, who replaced Dom Barba as coach, has led the Lions to two solid results, defeating Goulburn Valley and drawing with St Albans.

“We’ve got two clean sheets and that’s the first time we’ve had two clean sheets in a row. We’ve conceded four shots on target,” he said.

“I’m happy with the performance but we are yet to find a way to kill teams and making sure we win games, 2-0 or 3-0.”