Soccer: Drastic measures for Waitakere

Neil Emblen. Photo / Natalie Slade

Neil Emblen did not mince words in expressing his disappointment after his Waitakere United team slumped to their third loss of the ASB Premiership season.

Beaten 1-0 by Hawkes Bay United, Waitakere are now in a three-way fight for second place and the all-important O-League spots.

"Losing the way we did was very disappointing," said Emblen. "The lack of application was especially frustrating."

Emblen is looking for something vastly different in tomorrow's return to Fred Taylor Park to take on Otago United who, if they had not been docked points for playing an ineligible player in the 2-2 draw with Team Wellington in the season opener, would be right in the top-four mix.

"Players will be dropped," said Emblen. "Every player's position in the team is under threat."

Emblen hinted he might even look at a change in formation. Ryan de Vries is back from South Africa and Emblen is also hoping Jason Rowley will be fit as he is keen to get Chris Bale back into the midfield.

Waitakere are still finding it difficult to plug the defensive gaps left by Aaron Scott and Luke Adams, but Emblen is adamant he has the depth in the squad to cover such losses.

Otago travel north on the back of three losses but will be buoyed by what Hawkes Bay managed last Sunday.

Auckland City had a minor hiccup in their premiership quest in dropping their first points of the season at home to Waikato, but they have the depth and desire to turn that around even if they are away to a Team Wellington side who have strung together three successive wins including a 6-2 romp away to Hawkes Bay.

City should be fresh after a decent break this week and will be keen to keep a gap between themselves and the pack ahead of next week's home blockbuster against Waitakere.

Like Team Wellington, Waikato FC go into tomorrow's early game against Canterbury United at Porritt Stadium on an unbeaten three-game run. In their best performance of the season, Declan Edge's team held City to 1-1 and will take the confidence from that effort into what promises to be a key contest with Canterbury.

In the battle of the bottom, YoungHeart Manawatu will host Hawkes Bay in the final round-nine encounter.

ASB Premiership

Waikato FC v Canterbury United
Porritt Stadium
When: Tomorrow 12.30pm
Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh

Team Wellington v Auckland City
Where: Newtown Park
When: Tomorrow 1pm
Referee: Mark Hester

Waitakere United v Otago United
Where: Fred Taylor Park
When: Tomorrow 2pm
Referee: Isaac Trevis

YoungHeart Manawatu v Hawkes Bay United
Where: Memorial Park
When: Tomorrow 2pm
Referee: Chris Kerr