Soccer: Auckland dismiss favourite talk

Auckland City midfielder Jonathan Smith, right, is a surprise early leader in the goalscoring stakes. Picture / Herald On Sunday

Allan Jones refuses to accept his Auckland City team are the hot favourites to win their second New Zealand Football Championship. Who is he trying to kid?

Two-from-two has the defending champions on top of the points table. Even that does not sway Jones.

"On paper we might be the favourites, but football isn't played on paper," said Jones yesterday. "I still think Waitakere United with their imports and Canterbury United with their internationals are the teams to beat."

Jones has a chance to test that theory tomorrow afternoon when City play Canterbury United at Kiwitea St. Not surprisingly, Jones is fielding an unchanged side.

That means there is again no place in the starting line-up for Paul Urlovic or Reg Davani.

"They have been working very hard at training but like it is at any big club, they will have to be patient and wait for their chance to force their way in," said Jones.

While Keryn Jordan opened his account in the 2-1 win over Manawatu last weekend, fellow South African striker Grant Young has yet to score this season.

"I don't care where the goals come from. You can't rely on one or two players to score all the time," said Jones. "It is only a matter of time before Young scores."

Canterbury coach Danny Halligan will be looking to All Whites striker Brent Fisher to lead the charge. He can also expect solid back-up from fellow internationals Glen Collins and James Bannatyne in what promises to be a strong southern challenge.

Halligan, happy at the way in which his team bounced back from the first-up loss in Palmerston North, is, like Jones, looking for a total performance.

"To win, we must perform for the full 90 minutes unlike the first two matches where we have only played well in patches," said Halligan. "There is a good feeling in the squad after the win over Otago, but the lads know this week is a very difficult assignment. We will have to convert our chances against a well-drilled City defence if we are to be successful."

Striker Jamie Smith, who has scored Canterbury's only goal of the season, is out of tomorrow's match with an ankle injury. Young Daniel Moir is back after missing the win over Otago.

Waikato FC, away to Team Wellington on Sunday, have been dealt a crippling blow with captain and All Whites defender Che Bunce out for up to two months with an ankle injury.

Team Wellington, cruising at 2-0 against Waitakere last Sunday, were stung with three strikes from the home side and go into the game at Newtown Park looking for their first win with Dan Keat set to return to action. Coach Mick Waitt has also added striker Geoff Brown for his team's first home game.

In other action, Waitakere are away to Otago United, who could have player-coach Terry Phelan in action for the first time, and Hawkes Bay United, also looking for their first points, are at home to YoungHeart Manawatu.