A Knights Fail | Melbourne Knights 0 -1 Preston Lions

Lions players celebrate with fans after back to back wins

One thing Tompsett Stadium offers is variety. Plenty of places to sit, and plenty of places to get a drink. Plenty of food stands, with plenty of cuisines to choose from.

It’s hard to be decisive such are the options available, and that same indecisiveness permeated its way over the white line and got the better of Mthe hosts who, after settling in to the game quicker, struggled to create anything meaningful throughout.

In fairness, Preston Lions didn’t threaten much damage either. The sole goal aside, only Gabriel Matti was tested and when he had to use his gloves, it was routine.

Both teams had a chance to make it two on the bounce for the first time this campaign but attacking play was as limp as the banter a half dozen northern English lads offered up to Matti behind the Knights’ goal.

Both teams have statement wins under their belts this season. Lions beat South Melbourne in front of 9,000 fans in the early rounds, and Knights’ took a morale boost from last week’s Croatian Derby win. Both, who have aspirations for A-League 2, will need to be more inventive if they are to do more than take part in national football’s second tier reboot.

Darcy Anastovski led the Knights’ line, but it was a bit part performance as he lacked support from Jack Morton, who at times but not often enough was lively, Ciaran Bramwell and Masatou Chiba. There was simply no synergy between this front unit.

There was one glimmer of hope in the first half. Anastovski shifted left to encourage the Lions to play out through the other side where the Knights’s press awaited.

The trap worked and Anastovski eventually found himself on the lose ball, fencing it out to Deion Nikolaidas at left back. Advancing, Nikolaidas looked to threaten for a moment, only to tangle his feet when he arrived in the box. On top of a speculative Mortion effort from range, Preston rarely looked troubled in a relatively low block.

With half time approaching, some decisiveness finally came. Up until that point, Marcus Schroen ,who was playing out of position for the night up top, had failed to make anything stick. So when the Knights couldn’t break down a Preston counter they went wide to Stefan Nigro. The right back spotted Schroen on the move and with space between the Knights’ centre backs. Nigro’s cross found the makeshift forward who glanced a header beyond Matti’s back post, which trickled along the goal line before coming off the other post and nestling in the net.

The break was needed by both sides; Knights looking to regroup and Preston to take stock of a surprise lead. But little changed after the oranges were shared.

Preston were the more potent of the sides as Knights arguably froze. The Lions had more corners than Melbourne’s Hoddle grid, but did little with them.

The liveliest moment was arguably the end, when the visiting fans could get in full voice as the whistle went. Both sets of supporters had tried to drum up an atmosphere but even that proved a challenge at times.

In the end it was a telling appraisal of both teams. Preston Lions have secured an A League 2 berth for the summer, but will need to up the ante if they are to do more than make up the numbers. Knights on the other hand missed out, though the facilities are starting to look up to hosting such a level of football. They just need to start playing it.