Northcote City supporters will be hoping that the return of former coach Goran Lozanovski marks the start of a revival for the embattled NPL1 club.
Lozanovski will be in the dugout at John Cain Reserve on Saturday 23 April for his first game back in charge, and it will be interesting to see what changes the coach brings to the team for today’s round nine match against FC Bulleen.
Speaking on the club’s Facebook page earlier this week, Lozanovski said “the message (to the players) will be to get something out of this game”.
“What is important until the transfer window opens up, is to pick up as many points as we can. My plan is to restructure the team, put people in positions where I think they can do a good job and have a lot more discipline than what I’ve seen in the past. We will grind out results if we have to. If it’s going to be ugly football for us to start getting points on the board, then so be it.”
At the other end of the NPL 1 table, both South Melbourne and Heidelberg United host teams from the bottom half of the table on Sunday in their round nine league matches. Heidelberg hosts Richmond SC full of confidence following a stirring comeback win away to Bulleen Lions last Monday. However, coach George Katsakis will be mindful of Richmond’s capacity to upset the top dog as it did to South Melbourne earlier this season. South hosts youngster Melbourne Victory after a strong win against Oakleigh Cannons last Sunday and midweek cup win at Altona Magic.
In NPL 2 East, the match of the round is easily Monday night’s eagerly-anticipated clash between Kingston City and Dandenong Thunder at the Grange. Both teams sit undefeated at the top in first and second spots respectively on the ladder. Thunder, which has won all of its eight games this season, sits in second spot because of a three-point penalty from the FFV tribunal for playing a suspended player.
Both coaches have had to rotate their squads to some extent to accommodate mid- week FFA cup action and injuries. Kingston will be without the injured Simo Jovanovic and Velibor Mitrovic, while Thunder striker Amir Osmancevic remains in doubt for the clash.
“Two important players will be missing but our squad is a lot stronger than we’ve had for the last two or three years,” City coach Nick Tolios says. “I’m confident that whoever comes in and replaces those guys will be just as significant and important to the team. For us it’s going to be a test to get a result and keep that unbeaten run going, and try not to drop points at home.
“They (Dandenong) are a great outfit. Their front three have been fantastic. Defensively they’re very sound. It’s going to be a test for both teams. We’re just as strong going forward, pretty strong defensively as well. Literally it will come down on the day to who puts their chances away, because hopefully in games like this there’s not going to be too many. It’s who stands up on the day. From my end I just hope it’s a close encounter – two teams testing each other and having a go.”
In State League SE 1 round four action, high-flying Malvern City will attempt to keep its winning start to the season going when it hosts sixth-placed Mooroolbark, while at the other end of the table, South Springvale will be desperate for its first points of the season when it visits ninth-placed Manningham United.
In State League 1 NW, Yarraville travels to top of the table Altona Magic today, while Western Suburbs hosts Banyule City in a mid-table clash tomorrow.