PREVIEW: Knights v Cannons

Melbourne Knights welcome Oakleigh Cannons to Knights Stadium in Round 10 of the PS4 NPL Victoria season.

The fixture looms as a pivotal one for both sides who have struggled to find any consistency in the opening stages of the season. For the Knights a win will see Andrew Marth’s side keep in touching distance of the top 6, while a loss could have drastic ramifications and potentially see the club slip to as low as 12th.

It’s been a week of mixed emotions for the Knights having dropped points late against Heidelberg, earning progression in a hard fought cup win and ending in a disappointing loss to rivals South Melbourne. The cluster of fixtures hasn’t done any favours to the squad with Kym Harris, Marijan Cvitkovic and Joshua Brekalo sustaining injuries during the period.

The Knights will also be looking to improve their current home record, which has seen the side earn just 4 points from an available 12.

Oakleigh Cannons currently sit in 11th position having recorded 1 win & 5 draws from 8 games. Remarkably the Cannons have led in 5 of their 8 matches, only to hang on for just 1 victory against South Melbourne.

Goals have been hard to come by for the Cannons, who currently have the third lowest tally in the league of 8 goals in 8 games. However they are equally difficult to break down having conceded just 9 in the same period.

Dean Piemonte has been the main target for Oakleigh having scored half of their season tally. He is supported by the ever-dangerous, and formidable trio of Dusan Bosnjak, Goran Zoran & Nate Foster. Former Knights Shayan Alinejad and Steve Pantelidis also currently call Jack Edwards Reserve home.

Recent history between the sides is in slight favour of the visitors, with the past 6 fixtures resulting in 3 wins for the Cannons, 2 wins for the Knights and 1 Draw. At record at Knights Stadium doesn’t read well for the Knights, winning just 1 game from their past 8 against the Cannons.

Match Facts/Stats:
When: Friday 21st April 2017. 8:30pm
Where: Knights Stadium, Sunshine North.
Last Meeting: Melbourne Knights 1-3 Oakleigh Cannons.
Past 6 Meeting: Melbourne Knights 1, Oakleigh Cannons 4, Draw 1.

Melbourne Knights 2017 Season:
Goals: 15 (1.66 per game).
Conceded 16 (1.77 per game).
@ Home
Goals: 7 (1.75 per game)
Conceded: 6 (1.5 per game)
Knights Goal scorers: Kamsoba 5, Hicks 4, Cahill 4, Dixon 1, Mikulic 1.

Oakleigh Cannons 2017 Season:
Goals: 8 (1.00 per game).
Conceded 9 (1.12 per game).
@ Away
Goals: 2 (0.50 per game)
Conceded: 4 (1.00 per game)
Cannons Goal scorers: Piemonte 4, Bosnjak 1, Stratomitros 1, Marafioti 1, Pantelidis 1.

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