Soccer: Adshead plays down expectations

Knights coach John Adshead is warning fans they should not see last week's win over the Central Coast Mariners as the start of a long winning run.

It was instead a better indication of the performance the team are capable of and, if they can repeat it, will pick them up points in the demanding A-League.

"We are not the kind of team that is going to go out and mount a big run and win games in a row," said Adshead.

"Rather, the win proved to me what I had believed all along - that we have a useful side and one which will win games and stay in the picture.

"What they did last week, they did well, but the lads know they have to do a lot better in some areas. These lads are professionals."

The win was a start but it would all begin again against Newcastle on Sunday and the aim was to keep improving.

Adshead has stuck with the 15 players who stripped for last Sunday's game in Gosford, which means Josh Maguire, who travelled but was left out when captain Danny Hay passed a late fitness test, has been left out of today's party who head to Sydney and on to Newcastle.

"At the moment it is horses for courses but who knows, depending on results, there might be changes for the game here [Auckland] against Perth," said Adshead. "There will be very little recovery time between this game and the one against Perth on Thursday."

To that end, Adshead has called for a training/recovery session in Newcastle on Monday morning before the team flies home that night.

The Knights will be looking for more of the same up front from strikers Simon Yeo and Sean Devine on Sunday.

"They were brought to the Knights for the experience they could bring," said Adshead. "We are not here to sign young players for development. At this level they [Yeo and Devine] have been regular goalscorers.

"The fact that Sean Devine has had to play with four other players up front has not made it easy.

"He was professional enough to understand why I started him off the bench last week. Look at the impact he made.

"We might look to do the same this week."

Newcastle, one of five teams locked in the logjam in second place, remain one of the teams to beat, especially at home.

They started strongly against Sydney away last week, leading 2-0 after 18 minutes. They appeared to tire in the second spell, giving the super-fit Knights some hope.

Most interest will centre on Perth Glory's clash with leaders Adelaide United in Perth.

At $2.90, the unbeaten visitors rate a second look with the draw ($3.25) an interesting option.