Heat to meet old foes
Keeping the premiership out of reach of Brisbane Strikers is the tough ask awaiting FNQ Heat as they confront their Perry Park demons tonight. What could have been the site of their greatest achievements turned into two of the club’s greatest disappointments in 2016; the first losing the lead in the title race. FNQ Heat coach Tim Campbell said the opportunity to beat one of the best teams in the competition was enough motivation for his side.
KEEPING the premiership out of reach of Brisbane Strikers is the tough ask awaiting FNQ Heat as they confront their Perry Park demons tonight.
What could have been the site of their greatest achievements turned into two of the club’s greatest disappointments in 2016; the first losing the lead in the title race and the second the heartbreaking last-minute grand final loss.
FNQ Heat coach Tim Campbell said the opportunity to beat one of the best teams in the competition was enough motivation for his side, which is being seen as one of the Strikers’ greatest threats to back-to-back titles in what is now a two-horse race with Gold Coast City.
“It’s a good sign of their ambition,” Campbell said. “It’s massive for their standing in the league.
“I think it will be a bit of motivation for them. They’ll be wanting to go out there and beat the best sides as we’ve done. I don’t think they’ll feel too much pressure.”
Campbell said while defence had been shaky at times this season, there was no thought of changing the structure to protect themselves.
He doesn’t care if it’s 5-4, as long as they bring home three points.
As ever, Campbell said it was all about taking their chances in front of goal.
“We only know one way to play, so we best stick to it,” he said. “Sometimes we just struggle with knowing when to attack and when not to attack.
“I think when we enjoy our football, we do really well.
“But if you don’t take your chances when they pop up, you get yourself in trouble.
“Hopefully if we’re putting away our chances, we’ll keep up with them.”
While the Heat have won three of their past four and sit in the top four, another win could give them some breathing space to main top four challengers Moreton Bay and Brisbane City behind them.
Campbell said as usual the squad would look to Jamie Carroll to lead, confident his skipper has in recent weeks been in some of his best form.