The season may only be two rounds old but Adelaide United FC is about to embark on a crunch part of its season over the next six weeks.
The season may only be two rounds old but Adelaide United FC is about to embark on a crunch part of its season over the next six weeks.
Of the Reds- following six games, five of them away from home. Due to pitch unavailability which caused a venue swap for the club-s Round 1 and 6 matches against Perth Glory (the teams played their season opener at Coopers Stadium rather than Perth-s nib Stadium as was originally scheduled), it has meant the Reds will only host one match in its next six.
That solitary game at Coopers Stadium comes in the shape of a clash against Emile Heskey and the Newcastle Jets on Saturday, November 9, which will also include the club-s annual Remembrance Day ceremony.
But either side of that leading up to the first day of summer, the Reds face five tough away trips, starting with this Saturday-s mission of trying to knock over the reigning champion Central Coast Mariners in Gosford.
Then next Friday night (November 1) it is off to the red and black cauldron at Pirtek Stadium to tackle last season-s Premiers, the Wester Sydney Wanderers. The Reds then return home to face the Jets before heading to Perth for a clash against the Glory on November 16, before a Melbourne road double for games against the Victory (at Etihad on November 23) and the Heart at AAMI Park on Sunday, December 1.
Defender Nigel Boogaard is aware of the tough run that lies ahead but hinted the Reds have no intention of settling for less than maximum points despite the high number of games in foreign territory.
“It-s our first away game (this Saturday) and it is the first of quite a few in the upcoming weeks, so it would be good for us to get a result on the road because that will really set us up for away trips in the future,” Boogaard said.
Boogaard used examples of Brisbane Roar-s amazing undefeated run and Melbourne Victory-s sole approach to games, whether home or away, as the mentality the Reds would embrace and try to emulate under Coach Josep Gombau.
“I don-t think we-ll ever try and close down a game,” Boogaard said.
“I think the way we want to play football is to play football to the end – the way Brisbane have done in the past and the way Melbourne have done in the past.”
“If you keep playing and you-re not defensively minded you-re not going to concede goals.
“As soon as you see teams that want to defend a game out, usually they will cop goals, so I don-t think you-ll see that from us this year, not intentionally and it-s definitely not the coach-s plans.”
Put simply, do not expect this season-s Reds to shut up shop and sit back away from home. It-s going to be an intriguing six weeks.
Tickets for the home match against the Jets are available through Ticketek.
