Soccer: Absentees reduce Emblen's options for stopping Otago

Neil Emblen, coach of the Waitakere United. Photo / Natalie Slade

Injuries, international commitments and holidays have presented Waitakere United coach Neil Emblen with perhaps his toughest selection dilemma of the season as he prepares to kick off the new year with a tricky home game against Otago United this afternoon.

Defending an unbeaten ASB Premiership run at Fred Taylor Park since picking up the reins at the club, Emblen admits they have played better away from home this season.

"Five of our last seven games are at home so that should be in our favour," said Emblen. "But, yes, we have yet to show our very best form in front of our home crowd this season."

Emblen is certain to go to the substitutes' bench today as he finds himself without veterans Martin Bullock and Neil Sykes, injured Luis del Monte (calf) and Sean Lovemore (thigh), Tim Payne, Rory Turner (a late replacement for James Debenham), Luke Adams - in the national under-17 team - and Ryan de Vries, who has delayed his return from his holiday in South Africa.

He does have goalkeeper Andy Ralph back from injury but Danny Robinson, who took over when Ralph was injured, will play in goal today behind a likely back four of Aaron Scott, Jack Pelter, Tim Myers and Ashton Pett.

Roy Krishna is back from his Fijian holiday and will again link with Allan Pearce, Dakota Lucas and Mike Gwyther in a potent attacking force. Chris Bale and Jake Butler will again play centrally in midfield.

"I have had a couple of looks at Otago's 5-0 loss to Team Wellington on YouTube and have some idea of what to expect," said Emblen. "They will want to start the year on a positive note so we have to be wary."

The match will be the last for Otago's experienced Nathan Knox before work commitments take him across the Tasman.

Emblen will take a close interest in tomorrow's game at Linfield Park where Canterbury United will attempt to get their flagging season back on track against Auckland City.

Winless since beating bottom-placed YoungHeart Manawatu in mid-November and with only one point from a possible nine in December, Canterbury, one of the pre-season favourites, are in danger of missing the play-offs.

They will come up against an almost full-strength City side keen to continue their winning run.

"We have yet to decide whether to play David Mulligan centrally or wide in midfield," said co-coach Aaron McFarland. "He was the difference in our last game. When he came on with 30 minutes to play we were leading 1-0. At the end we won 5-0.

"I haven't seen Canterbury this season but they will be keen to start the new year positively so we will need to be at our best. We are pretty much at full strength, which is a tribute to the work done by our backroom staff."

In the first game of the round, Waikato FC are at home to Hawkes Bay United today.

ASB Premiership

*Waitakere United v Otago United
*Fred Taylor Park
*Today 4pm

*Waikato FC v Hawkes Bay United
*Fred Jones Park
*Today 3pm