Blues to step in as title x-factor

September 18 2009

Shepparton News

Shepparton United has already gatecrashed the grand final and has its back to the wall as it tries to go a step further in Goulburn North East Football Association on Sunday.

The Blues' physical and intense 1-0 win against Shepparton last week has allowed it a fourth shot at Shepparton South this season.

United's goal-scorer from the preliminary final, Fahed Alghazaly, is suspended, meaning attacking options for the Blues will be limited.

But a clean sheet and fighting defensive performance against Shepparton has United coach Jason Mulkeen confident his team can find a way to win at Tatura Park.

``Without a doubt everyone thought it was going to be a Shepparton versus Shepparton South grand final and that was quite a spur for us,'' he said.

``We felt we didn't have the respect we deserved, we won a little bit of that back at the weekend.

``But with that said the focus all along for every team is winning the grand final.''

Even if Alghazaly, who picked up one yellow card in each of the first two finals, had been eligible, Mulkeen said playing South required a different game plan to the attacking style his team took to Shepparton last weekend.

``Fahed's a quality player and we're obviously going to miss him, but against Shepparton we played a formation we thought could catch them out with our speed,'' he said.

``South's a different kettle of fish, but that doesn't mean we'll be going in with a defensive frame of mind.

``There's certainly a belief there, we held them for about 70 minutes last time, but we'll admit it wasn't one of our better performances.''

Mulkeen said the expectation to score goals did not rest solely on UK recruit Luke Harrop, but on players who needed to rise from their ``low profile'' status to take on the game.

``We're not relying on players with a reputation, it's the next tier that needs to step up,'' he said.