Soccer: No glory for Knights as Perth go top

SYDNEY - The New Zealand Knights A-League soccer horror show suffered another double blow last night as they dropped their ninth straight game, 3-0 at Perth Glory, and lost top scorer Simon Yeo to a leg injury.

The English striker was stretchered off with 10 minutes remaining at Members Equity Stadium, in obvious pain clutching his right knee after what appeared an innocuous challenge with former Socceroos midfielder Simon Colosimo.

By the time Yeo gave coach John Adshead another personnel headache Glory had already banked the three points and claim a share of the competition lead with Sydney and Adelaide, who are yet to play this weekend.

Despite morale obviously dipping during their losing streak the Knights, while ultimately outgunned, had some positive periods at the start of the match and in the lead-up to halftime.

Unfortunately Perth dominated in between times and had a handy two goal buffer at the break through strikes to Bobby Despotovski and Naum Sekulovski.

Nick Ward went close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute when he directed a free header over the bar but a minute later Despotovski had the home side in front when he rounded off a sweeping counter attack to power an angled right foot shot through the legs of goalkeeper Danny Milosevic.

Off contract forward Damien Mori, who may have played his last game for Perth, netted in the 18th minute from a delightful Despotovski though the Knights had a reprieve a linesman correctly flagged for offside.

However, there was no let off for some slack marking in the 25th minute when Despotovski again turned creator, turning the ball back across the box for Sekulovski to slot the ball past an exposed Milosevic.

The Knights then enjoyed their best period of the game as captain Danny Hay twice made use of his height advantage to go agonisingly close with set piece headers.

His first effort in the 31st minute looped on to the roof of the net and 11 minutes later his firm goal-bound connection forced a rare save from Glory custodian Jason Petkovic.

The Knights needed to score after halftime to have any hope of a revival and although they plugged away it was Ward who provided the only goal of the spell when he latched on to a Mori cross, controlled the ball with his first touch and then flicked it over the advancing Milosevic to secure Perth's fourth straight victory in the 69th minute.

Glory coach Steve McMahon said complacency was his biggest worry after the two early goals.

"The only trouble I thought we were going to have, was complacency through our own making," McMahon said.

"I just wanted to get to half time without conceding a goal. (For the last ten minutes) we were giving them a few easy corners and looks at our goal.

"But if you told me it was going to be 3-0 before the game I would have taken it that's for sure. I'm delighted with the three points."

Knights coach John Adshead offered an explanation on his team's demise after saying "it is probably the toughest managing job he has had."

"When I came into the job towards the end of January, the line of players allowed was 17, there was a bit of pressure on us and we didn't have the advantage the seven Australian teams had. A lot of the better players (were already signed before we came into the market)."

Adshead said he looked overseas because he didn't think the quality of the New Zealand players he looked at were up to A-League standard.

But he still saw his team as an integral part of the A-League.

"We're an important cog of the A-League. New Zealand is the most structured and professionally set-up club in the league. The results and crowds are lacking and that's what everyone's looking at.

"Patience now, there is no quick fix. We're starting to build for next season."

New Zealand headed home from Western Australia early today (5.00am NZT) and return across the Tasman later next week to play Adelaide United on Sunday.

Perth Glory 3 (Bobby Despotovski 11, Naum Sekulovski 25, Nick Ward 69)

New Zealand Knights 0

Halftime: 2-0.

- NZPA