Moore scratching head over home form, bogey team

Something has got to give when Queensland travels to Newcastle for Sunday’s A-League clash. Jets star Joel Griffiths can’t stop scoring goals against the Roar. And Queensland can’t stop winning away.

Both facts have Roar skipper Craig Moore scratching his head.

Throughout the veteran’s glittering 14-year European career, the home ground was the club’s fortress - but not so in Queensland.

All three of Queensland’s losses this season have occurred at Suncorp Stadium.

And all three wins have been away.

“It is a strange one. It was something even when I first came (last year) I was told about, that home form wasn’t fantastic,” Moore said today.

“We tried to improve on it last season.

“And this season we have played well at home but haven’t been able to get over the line and get the points.

“When you look at the European leagues that (home) is where the teams get the points to keep them up and put them in contention to win things.”

If their home record wasn’t enough to do the former Socceroos captain’s head in, there’s also Griffiths’ amazing form against the Roar.

That run continued last month when Griffiths scored for the fifth consecutive time against Queensland with a late winner in the Roar’s heartbreaking 1-0 loss at Suncorp Stadium.

“They are a bit of a bogey team aren’t they?” Moore said.

But the Socceroos defender doesn’t seem to be losing any sleep over the imminent Griffiths threat.

“He (Griffiths) has had a decent run as far as scoring goals against us, but he’s not somebody that going into the game I am overly concerned about,” he said.

Moore said their frustrating 1-0 loss last month and last season’s 3-2 preliminary final defeat at the hands of the Jets would spur Queensland on to extend their impressive away form.

“Newcastle were the team that knocked us out (of last season’s finals),” Moore said.

“I remember saying to the boys at that stage last season ‘remember what this feels like, remember the team that made you feel like that because we need to get out there and get a good result against them next time’.

“Unfortunately that wasn’t the case but we have another chance.

“We are confident of taking all three points.”

Fifth-placed Queensland (3-3-3 record) are just one point outside the top four with Newcastle (6th; 2-4-3) breathing down their necks.

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