Losing run to fire up proud Knights

AFTER four straight NPL Tasmania losses, Glenorchy coach James Sherman is expecting a response from his players in tonight’s clash with the Hobart Zebras at KGV.

The Knights picked up five wins and two draws from their first 11 matches, but have dropped their past four against Launceston City, Devonport, South Hobart and Kingborough.

Glenorchy will miss star forward Callum Brown, who is out for the rest of the season with a medial collateral ligament injury, but Sherman said he was expecting a response to the run of losses from his players against the Zebras tonight.

“I’ve been asking for it, and Friday it really needs to be shown,” he said. “I’m after some leaders from the playing group, we want some winners, we want people to start taking the game by the scruff of the neck and [have] some accountability on the pitch, and I’m really confident that Friday night we’ll hopefully be able to see it.”

The Zebras — who have won their past two games — sit fourth, and coach David Smith said their next three matches, against the Knights, South Hobart, and Devonport, would help decide where they finish.

“We get some points in that, depending how many, that will tell us where we’re going to go,” Smith said.

“We’re a fair way off the top teams at the moment, if I’m honest, the way we’re playing … I think if we get everyone back and we’re organised, I think we can [compete with the top sides].”

The Zebras will welcome back defender Thomas Little against the Knights, and Smith is expecting a tough tussle.

“They’re a very good side going forward, if they tighten up at the back they’re going to be very hard to beat,” he said.

The Zebras and Knights drew 2-2 when they met at KGV in April.

Meanwhile, the Olympia Warriors can close the gap to league leader Devonport to two points with a win over the Kingborough Lions at Lightwood Park tomorrow, as the Strikers have a bye this weekend. The Lions will be no pushover, though, having won their past three games.

Riverside hosts South Hobart at Windsor Park and Launceston hosts Clarence at Buckby Land Rover Park in tomorrow’s remaining NPL Tas fixtures.

In the Women’s Super League, leader Olympia takes on Kingborough at Lightwood Park tomorrow.

The Hobart Zebras host South Hobart and Ulverstone hosts Clarence in the day’s other matches.