Ballarat City will be without goal-scoring machine Michael Trigger for its Football Federation Victoria National Premier League two west clash with Springvale after being suspended for four matches following his red card against Melbourne City.
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Trigger copped a red card for abusing the referee after an incident late in Saturday’s loss.
Trigger, who is leading the league’s goal-kicking with nine, received an automatic one-match suspension for the red card and a further three matches were added following the FFV’s decision.
Ballarat City coach Danny Gnjidic said the club did not expect such a lengthy suspension, but admits Trigger does play a fiery, on the line brand of football.
Replacing the 22-year-old striker will prove difficult, but the side will rejig its structure to adapt.
“He is a fiery character and plays with a lot of emotion and spirit,” Gnjidic said.
“This was a day where it wasn’t going our way and maybe he got a little frustrated in a manner the referee didn’t appreciate.
“We didn’t expect four, we thought maybe two, three at most – so we’re disappointed and unfortunately it’s an expensive lesson to learn.
“He suffers because he’s on the sidelines for a month and given the form he was in the team’s going to suffer.
“The reality is, someone like Trigger, there is no one who can replicate the way he plays. It changes things a little bit, we know his strengths and what he brings to the team. Someone else will play the role he plays, but obviously a little differently and the players around him will need to adapt.”
Saturday’s clash with the White Eagles will be City’s third week in a row on the road.
Gnjidic said his group will need to tighten up its defensive structures against a side that may not be of the same ilk as Melbourne City, but certainly capable if allowed to play its style.
“We didn’t do enough as a defenisve unit (last week)…so that’s an area we want to improve on.
“On reflection, we realised that we were a bit off the previous two weeks where we made it really tough for the opposition to play and we didn’t do that enough against Melbourne City, so we need to get back to that.”
City is expected to make at least two changes as David and Charles King return to the line-up.
Aside from Trigger’s absence, City has a full list to choose from.
