Soccer: Leading trio suffer holiday hangover

Left licking their collective wounds after midweek upsets, the top three NZ Football Championship teams must regroup quickly or see their mid-season advantage further whittled away.

Leaders Auckland City, beaten 4-2 in Napier on Tuesday, face a testing home game with Waikato FC tomorrow.

In 11 previous outings, City had conceded more than a goal only once in drawing 2-2 away to YoungHeart Manawatu and boasting four clean sheets. With that record blown apart, Allan Jones must regroup his squad, get back to the basics and put the post-Christmas blues behind them.

Waikato will be difficult after scoring the third upset of the 12th round at Trusts Stadium on Wednesday night.

"We are looking forward to playing at Kiwitea St," said Waikato football manager James Pamment. "It is a great place to go. We drew 0-0 there earlier in the season but Allan [Jones] will obviously have his players ready. We have a lot of respect for them as the championship leaders."

Waikato have the away record to back their claims.

On the road they have won three, drawn two and lost only once to a last-minute goal after out-playing Otago United.

Of the disappearance of former All Whites goalkeeper Michael Utting from the team sheet, Pamment said: "We haven't seen Michael at training recently. We are waiting for him to tell us he is fully fit and over his groin injury. He didn't come to our training camp at Mt Maunganui last weekend but when he is fully fit and 100 per cent ready we expect to see him back."

Mark Fulcher holds his place in goal with Eddie Trubshoe named on the bench.

Waitakere United have little time to regroup after the 2-1 loss to Waikato. They are off to New Plymouth tomorrow for one of four promotional matches being used by New Zealand Soccer to flagship the game in smaller centres.

Suspended striker Keryn Jordan will miss the game against Manawatu.

International Noah Hickey had some encouraging game time against Waikato and coach Chris Milicich will be hoping to get more from him tomorrow.

Manawatu have an added advantage with Jared McElhannan, Tahu Kotua, Scott Smith and Sanjay Singh getting a rare chance to play in front of a home crowd at Yarrow Stadium.

Captain Paul Dirou returns from a one-match suspension and Steven Tippet hopes to return from illness after missing the 1-1 away draw with Canterbury United on Tuesday.

The round kicks-off in Napier tonight with the home side meeting in-form Team Wellington in what promises to be a spanking opener. Both teams had encouraging wins midweek and will be looking to continue their charge towards the top three.

The round is completed on Sunday with an all South Island struggle when Otago visit Christchurch. Thumped 5-0 at home by Team Wellington, Otago must overcome that and the loss of Vanuatu international Victor Maleb (suspended) if they are to hold third place on the points table.

It promises to be the closest of the 13 rounds thus far.