Ballarat City manager Danny Gnjidic doesn’t like to look too far ahead, but even he knows the club needs to capitalise on a run of upcoming home fixtures.
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The City boys will return to Morshead Park on Saturday night looking to end a run of three consecutive defeats in the National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 competition.
That run of losses has seen the team drop to eighth on the west division table, just two points clear of bottom side Sunshine George Cross and nine behind leaders Altona Magic.
Ballarat lost 3-0 to Moreland City last weekend, which came after defeats at the hands of the Magic and Melbourne Victory.
“We were well placed there after the Sunshine George Cross game (5-0 win), but that seems like an eternity ago now. We have lost three on the bounce in the league and have been knocked out of the (FFA) cup,” Gnjidic said.
“We are looking forward to games at home. Obviously we like playing at home on a Saturday night, it’s always a good atmosphere and a good set-up for a good game.
“We are hoping that’s the start of a good run for us this week.”
After conceding a number of “calamitous” goals in recent weeks, Gnjidic said it’s important for his team to eliminate concentration-based errors in key moments of matches.
“We haven’t been far away. We are not getting blown away on the park. Last week’s scoreline looks one-sided, but the reality is that it was a closer game than the scoreline suggested and we have just got to manage those key moments a little bit better,” Gnjidic told The Courier.
“That’s both in front of the opposition goal and take our chances and be a little bit more stringent at the other end.”
We haven’t been far away. We are not getting blown away on the park."
- Ballarat City coach Danny Gnjidic
Saturday night will see the Ballarat City side take on a North Geelong Warriors outfit that sits fourth on the table.
The Warriors have won four games in 2018, but will head to Ballarat following last weekend’s 4-0 loss to Goulburn Valley Suns.
After this weekend’s clash, Ballarat will host Springvale White Eagles on April 28 and then Box Hill United on May 5.
The team is then back on the road for a game against the Goulburn Valley Suns – in Shepparton – on May 12.
Saturday’s senior match is scheduled to start at 6pm, with the under-20 fixture set down for 4pm.
