January is shaping as a month that could go a long way to determining whether Adelaide United FC can remain a legitimate Premiership contender.
January is shaping as a month that could go a long way to determining whether Adelaide United FC can remain a legitimate Premiership contender.
It could be successfully argued that every game in a season is vital, however the first month of 2013 looms as a highly significant one.
Starting with a trip to Newcastle to face the Jets on Saturday, the Reds- four matches in January comprise of three away from home, with their only game at Hindmarsh Stadium being against Perth Glory on Friday night, January 11.
On top of the journey to the Hunter, the Reds- other two away games are against Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park followed by a showdown with the top of the table Central Coast Mariners in Gosford.
As challenging as the road ahead is for the Reds, after ending 2012 with a convincing 3-0 win over Sydney FC on New Years Eve which snapped a two game losing run, the Reds enter Saturday-s first test against the Jets with their confidence brimming.
Speaking after the Reds- first training session of the New Year, Cassio believes the victory and performance against the Sky Blues is just the tonic for the Reds as they enter a tough run of matches.
“Everyone played with confidence and tried to play forward and score goals, we could have scored more but in the end it was a good result,” Cassio said.
“If we do well in the next couple of games we have a big chance to stay in the top six but we need to keep working hard, the confidence has to be high and everyone has to do their job properly.”
Making Saturday-s clash away to Newcastle even more telling is the fact that the Jets sit just outside the top six and will know that points at home are at a premium for their finals chances.
But Cassio is optimistic the Reds can secure a fourth win away from home this season.
“Hopefully we get a result away from home. We know Newcastle will expect to win the game so we have to be smart and try to get a result there,” the Reds- pocket rocket said.
“Apart from the Western Sydney game, all the games we played away, the confidence was very high but of course when you play away you have to be more careful what you do.”
Two points behind the Mariners but with a five point gap to the third placed Western Sydney Wanderers, the Reds have the opportunity to make some waves of their own with some positive results away from home in the next four weeks before kick starting February with two huge home encounters against the Wanderers and Melbourne Victory.
