Going into our next clash against Hume City, the Melbourne Knights will be in desperate need of all 3 points to pull itself out of the relegation zone.
It will the be the first time in 5 years where the Knights will take to the field under the stewardship of someone other than Andrew Marth, who parted ways with the club earlier this week.
Ben Surey will act as interim coach for the Knights, whether or not there will be any major changes to the side will remain a mystery until kick off. However with the team still plagued by injuries, what Surey will be able to do in terms of player selection will be limited. He will have one positive with the return of Nikola Jurkovic from suspension.
Last week’s match away to fellow strugglers St Albans Saints was one to forget, ending in a dire 0-0 deadlock. The Knights rarely looked like scoring in a flat and uninspired performance.
This sees the Knights now extend their winless streak to 7 matches, only one game away from equalling the club record of 8 consecutive matches without a win.
Our next opponents Hume City are currently sitting in 6th spot, but much like the Knights they too have had a recent downturn in form.
Hume are currently winless in their past 4 matches which has seen the club slowly descend down the table. Their lack of form may prove to be just what the Knights need in this transition period.
Liam Boland has been a standout for Hume this season, currently sitting as their top goalscorer with 6 goals. Former Knights player James McGarry will also be making his first return to Knights Stadium since leaving to join Hume in the off season.
With the 2017 season now at the halfway point the Knights can no longer afford to keep dropping points, the battle to survive relegation must begin now.
Match Facts/Stats:
When: Friday 19th May, 8:30pm
Where: Knights Stadium, North Sunshine
Last Meeting: Hume City 2-2 Melbourne Knights (2017 NPL)
Head to Head Record:
Played 20
Melbourne Knights 8 wins 4 draws Hume City 8 wins
Melbourne Knights 2017 Season:
Goals: 17 (1.31 per game).
Conceded 25 (1.92 per game).
@ Home
6 Games – 1 Win, 2 Draw, 3 Loss.
Goals: 8 (1.33 per game)
Conceded: 13 (2.17 per game)
Knights Goal scorers: Hicks 6, Kamsoba 5, Cahill 4, Dixon 1, Mikulic 1.
Hume City 2017 Season
Goals: 18 (1.38 per game).
Conceded: 13 (1.00 per game).
@ Away
7 Games – 3 Win, 2 Draws, 2 Loss
Goals: 10 (1.43 per game)
Conceded: 5 (0.71 per game)
Hume Goalscorers: Boland 6, McGarry 2, Ofli 2, Clark 1, Hegarty 1, Markelis 1, Prasad 1, Wallace 1, Weier 1.