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“Poor sisters” North Queensland are backing their football skills to end fellow A-League newcomer Gold Coast United’s much-hyped unbeaten streak after one game.
With United suffering late injury dramas, the Fury feel they are primed for a round two upset at Skilled Park in Saturday night’s second all-Queensland clash.
NQ coach Ian Ferguson denied the Fury would resort to negative, spoiling tactics to overcome star-studded United who were impressive 3-1 winners over Brisbane Roar on debut.
Coast coach Miron Bleiberg had challenged the club he last week labelled United’s “poor foster sister” to play with skill rather than with fire like the Roar.
Bleiberg admitted outspoken club owner Clive Palmer’s claim the expansion club would win the premiership unbeaten meant all their matches would have extra spice.
But the under-rated Fury also have extra motivation to lower United colours after entering the competition at the same time and taking a completely different approach, both on and off the field.
“Teams that are inferior ability-wise will go more to the physical side,” Bleiberg said. “Teams that can’t compete with us on the field will be fiery on the field.
“They will dictate whether they are inferior to us, we hope they will play a good open game.”
Ferguson expected the Fury to be much improved from their opening round 3-2 loss to Sydney FC when his disorganised and rusty side conceded two goals in the opening 20 minutes.
“I think against Sydney we showed we want to play (with skill), we didn’t try the long ball,” Ferguson said.
“We’ll be physical but we won’t be kicking people off the park. We’ll have structure.”
While he is yet to train with his teammates, new signing Shane Stefanutto will bring experience and an extra dimension to NQ’s defence.
Socceroos fullback Stefanutto will be one of the two changes for the Fury with former Roar and Brondby striker David Williams also named to start.
In a blow, Gold Coast are expected to be without Brazilian playmaker Robson who was cleared of a serious knee problem after undergoing an MRI scan on Friday.
Robson, who capped an outstanding display against the Roar with a late solo goal, must pass a pre-match fitness test but is rated unlikely to play.
It would compound the absence of Saudi Arabian-signed Adam Griffiths whose defensive midfield role will be taken by Michael Thwaite.
“I believe the main avenue of the Fury to attack us will be through the air and by me putting Michael Thwaite there will allow me to bring Kristian Rees in (to central defence) and he’s also very strong in the air.
“Then we’ll have the Chinese wall with Bas van den Brink, Thwaite and Rees.”
Former Victory hardman Steve Pantelidis is on stand-by for Robson, while Milson and Daniel Piorkowski have been ruled out with groin injuries.
In some good news for United, highly-rated Ivory Coast import Adama Traore received his clearance on Friday and will start at left back.
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