Blacktown City prepared for FFA Cup visit of MetroStars

Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden has done his homework on MetroStars SC and is banking on the Demons being too strong at both ends of the field in tonight's FFA Cup round of 32 match at Lily's Football Centre.

Blacktown City

Blacktown City took on Bentleigh Greens in the FFA Cup at Lilys Football Centre in August last year (Getty) Source: Getty Images Asia Pacific

Asked what he knew about his South Australian opposition, Crittenden told The World Game: "I've watched a few of their games on Youtube and made a few phone calls.

"I spoke to someone very close to the action in Adelaide and got a rundown on each individual MetroStars player from him as well. That's the best you can do. They're a handy side, but we'll be as ready as we can be.

"They won the National Premier League championship last year, beating Bonnyrigg, so there’s obviously something there. (Fabian) Barbiero and (Steven) Grelli are among the players we'll have to watch. They've got boys who have been around a bit, so there's plenty of talent and technical ability.

"I got our man to cut up some stuff on video and I sat the boys down on Monday night and did a bit of analysis on the opposition and showed them their strengths and weaknesses to get them up to speed as much as we can.
Blacktown City is a clear leader on the NPL NSW competition table and has easily the best defensive record - having conceded 18 goals in 19 games - and the second-best attacking record, with 46 goals.

MetroStars is currently seventh on the NPL SA table and has scored 36 goals and conceded 32 in 23 games.

"Defensively, we're currently doing very well," Crittenden said. "But we are very attacking minded, very quick at the front. We've got every reason to believe we'll be very competitive in a game like this.

"It's a good opportunity for us, because we lost at this stage of the FFA Cup last year (1-0 to Bentleigh Greens) in a game in which we had plenty of chances to win.

"There's a positive for the other mob in that they arrived here yesterday and went into camp at Valentine Sports Park. Many of our boys have gone to work as usual today.

"The opposition will try to take advantage of that. Hopefully, we can get a good crowd to the game to support us and we can take advantage of that.

"It's very important for the club and the boys to have some exposure in a competition like the FFA Cup.

"If we can get a win in this game and jag an A-League club at home for the next round we can pull a good crowd and almost fill our budget for the year through ticket sales and canteen and that sort of stuff."

Crittenden said Blacktown's leading goal-scorer this season, former Western Sydney Wanderers forward Joey Gibbs, was out injured.

But the team still has several other players with A-League experience, including Travis Major, who had a stint with Central Coast Mariners in the A-League last season.

"There hasn't been a lot of goals for 'Trav' recently, but he's got quite a few assists - especially when Joey Gibbs was playing," Crittenden said. "Joey was playing at nine and Trav out at seven.

"Trav is still finding his feet a little bit, but I'm expecting him to unload at some stage soon.

"He's still hoping to get back to A-League level, for sure. He's still young enough. We've got a few boys with that ambition.

"The guys are pretty pumped for this game. If you weren't pumped for something like this, you shouldn't be playing the game."

Tonight's FFA Cup Round of 32 matches:
Blacktown City v Metrostars SC
Broadmeadows Magic v Heidelberg Untied
Hume City FC v Brisbane Strikers
Palm Beach Sharks v South Melbourne


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4 min read
Published 29 July 2015 1:00pm
Updated 29 July 2015 1:02pm
By Greg Prichard
Source: SBS

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