Six games into pre-season and already it has become evident (if it wasn’t already) that A-League new boys NQ Fury will largely be relying on Robbie Fowler for the upcoming A-League season.
In their six friendlies, the Fury have scored four goals, all of which coming in a match against QSL side Capricorn Cougars.
Last night was yet another indication of Ian Ferguson’s side’s inability to score against A-League opposition, with the only shining light coming in the form of youngster Fred Agius.
After a close defeat to the Gold Coast five days earlier the side suffered their latest defeat, losing 4-0 to a rejuvenated Sydney side.
Starting the match with arguably their strongest side to date, it took only seven minutes for Steve Corica to breach the Fury’s defence with a deflected shot after failing to clear a Sydney corner.
Despite holding on for the rest of the half, Sydney’s second goal came only one-minute after the half-time interval, through youngster Brendan Gan. It went from bad to worse when Fred Agius sent a poor back-pass that was rounded off by Kofi Danning, to give Vitezslav Lavicka’s side a 3-0 score-line.
Capping off a fine display by Sydney was Terry McFlynn scoring in the 87th minute to finish the game virtually the same way it started.
It was Sydney FC’s eighth-straight match without conceding a goal, giving the side an important psychological advantage, ahead of the Round 1 clash between the two sides. Despite the convincing win, Sydney Coach Vitezslav Lavicka is failing to get carried away.
“We are still in pre-season. I have good feeling from this game but no celebrating. Pre-season is still going,” he said after the game. “We still need to improve. We have many turnovers [in the first half]. We need many things to improve.
“But I am satisfied; satisfied with team unity … the players are working hard every session. I’m satisfied but keep humble.”
Of course, star signing Robbie Fowler has been out on the sidelines for each and every match so far, through niggling injuries and alike, but has too much pressure already been place on the former England international?
There is no doubting his quality, though questions marks still remain over his fitness as well as doubts over the ability of the squad around him.
The Fury’s next opponent will be Adelaide United in Darwin on the 2nd of July, a match which Fowler is yet again expected to be missing from.
Thankfully though, the Liverpool legend is expected to be fit for the international friendly against Wolverhampton Wanderers, we’re going to need him that’s for sure.
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