Soccer: Battlers look for change of luck

By TERRY MADDAFORD

His players had the day off on New Year's Day, but for Football Kingz coach Tommy Mason it was business as usual as he pored over videotapes of upcoming opponents.

"They chilled out, but for me the schedule was tight as ever," he said. "It is no different to how things are in Britain. This is always a busy time."

The travelling just makes it trickier.

The Kingz left late yesterday afternoon for Perth. They meet the Glory at midnight tonight (NZ time), are back in Auckland about 24 hours later, have a day off and then head to Melbourne for the crucial bottom-of-the-table clash with the Melbourne Knights on Wednesday.

"It is not easy, but I can't concern myself with that," Mason said.

"If we can do as well as we did against Parramatta, we could get something out of it.

"Any kind of a result in Perth would be great. I've had a look at a couple of tapes. They are a good side. They are very disciplined.

"There is likely to be a crowd of between 10,000 and 15,000, which makes it a real hotbed. Hopefully, that will inspire the boys. Our job will be to push on from the Parramatta game."

And, hopefully, get a bit of the luck that tends to desert teams at the wrong end of the table.

Although Mason would not be drawn, it is clear he felt the Kingz had a couple of half-decent shouts for penalties in the game at Waikato Stadium. Both were turned down.

"When you are down, you tend to get calls like that," Mason said.

"I prefer to look forward. We have been giving 100 per cent. Now we have to turn that into something even more positive."

Like goals.

"We have to put our chances away."

There is good and bad on the injury front.

Michael Utting, Paul Harries, Aleksander Midtsian and Mark Burton are out, but John Tambouras, Paul Seaman and Jeremy Christie are back, and Glen Collins returns from suspension.

Tambouras, who suffered a bad head injury in the game against Sydney United, returns, but will still wear some protection tonight.

Chris Jackson has a couple of stitches in an eye injury, but will play. Mark Beldham has not made the trip.

Kingz squad: Ross Nicholson, Tamati Williams, Mauro Donoso, Glen Collins, John Tambouras, Espen Schjerven, Jeff Campbell, David Rayner, Jason Rowley, Chris Jackson, Jeremy Christie, Paul Seaman, Tallan Martin, Harry Ngata, Brad Scott.