Soccer: Nerves of steel key to victory in top-of-table clash, say Jones

Auckland City coach Allan Jones is convinced the battle with nerves as much as the opposition will decide the outcome of today's top-of-the-table New Zealand Football Championship clash at Kiwitea St.

City take a one-point lead over YoungHeart Manawatu into a game which Jones insists will have no place for the faint-hearted.

"It has the makings of the game of the season which would be even more so if we were playing in a professional rather than an amateur league," said Jones. "It is a genuine top-of-the-table clash with the team best standing up to the nerves of it likely to succeed."

Jones was in Wellington last week to watch Manawatu battle back from 2-0 down to 2-2 with Team Wellington despite being a player short after Alick Maemae had been sent off.

"It will be interesting to see how their new player [Benjamin Totori] performs. From what I have been told, this kid is greased lightning," said Jones. "I know from what I saw in Wellington, they [Manawatu] are not where they are by accident.

"They have four current internationals - three from the Solomons and Steven Old - in their squad. We have none although we do have a few former internationals. They are very strong all round with two very experienced and talented players in Ian Robinson and Ian Sandbrook."

Jones is always happy to talk up the opposition but his own team has also been on top of their game with Jones labelling their 4-1 win - again at home - over Otago United last Saturday as a cracking game and their best of the season.

"We scored some great goals," said Jones. "That is behind us now. We have to look ahead and the game against Manawatu which for us is a genuine six-pointer."

Jones, for perhaps the first time this season, is likely to put out the same starting XI as that which beat Otago. He points to his team's excellent disciplinary record as another factor in their charge for a second title.

Waitakere United coach Steve Cain could do with some restraint from his players. This week he has Stu Hogg back from suspension for the away game with Team Wellington but loses Jake Butler.

He will also be without Michael Mayne who broke two toes at work when a concrete mixer fell on his foot.

"We are suffering in not having regular and recognised strikers," said Cain.

Cain also bemoaned defensive frailties. "Last week against Waikato we led 2-0 and should have won but the 11 players we had on the pitch could not wind the clock down."

Now 13 points out of second place and in fifth place, Cain has not given up hope of a top two finish.

"We want Auckland City to keep winning as realistically we can't catch them. We are still aiming for second but would probably need to win our two matches against Manawatu."

Tomorrow's game in Wellington is vital for both teams in a weekend where all matches pit teams closest to each other on the table against each other.

In other matches, bottom-of-the-table Hawkes Bay United are at home to Waikato FC and in the South Island battle Otago are home to Canterbury in the clash of the third and fourth-placed teams.