Soccer: Promise lies in the numbers

By TERRY MADDAFORD

If football games were decided on statistics, Football Kingz coach Ken Dugdale would be a happy man. They are not.

Dugdale is convinced, and most would agree, that the team is playing better than the bumbling effort they turned in last season, but with just seven points from eight games the stats do not agree.

"Against the eight teams we have played already this season and at the same venues we scored 11 goals last season and conceded 25. This time we have scored 10 but conceded just 10," said Dugdale. "And a good proportion of those 10 we have let in have been the result of individual error.

"We are continuing to create chances but too many have gone begging. It is not an easy- fix situation but we are certainly not in any hurry to make changes just for change's sake.

"Stu Jacobs and I believe in what we are doing and are going to carry on. Hopefully, things will turn around."

Tonight at Ericsson Stadium they meet a Parramatta Power side who have crossed the Tasman with their confidence sky high after scoring their second win of the season.

On the down side, they are without ace goalscorer Pablo Cardozo but in Royce Brownlie, a player involved in a pre-season tug-of-war with Perth Glory, they have a ready-made substitute.

Of the Kingz players who have appeared in recent times, only newcomer James Pritchett, struggling with a thigh strain, will be missing.

There are also concerns about captain Chris Jackson, who spent time in hospital this week with a stomach complaint.

Jonathan Perry returns after a long break and should pick up Pritchett's spot.

Hiroshi Miyazawa, a late withdrawal from last week's team who travelled to Marconi last week, has recovered from the flu and should start.

The team trained under lights at Ericsson last night in preparation for their first night game of the season at their home ground.

The match kicks off at 7.30pm.