Terry Maddaford: Truly terrifying - ghost of the Kingz just won't go away

High expectations have turned to disappointment after the New Zealand Knights' embarrassing effort against the Queensland Roar.

Fading memories of the long-lamented Football Kingz were harshly rekindled as the new mob bumbled their way through the opening and closing 10 minutes to concede five unanswered goals on Saturday.

Hopes of something different from the Knights sadly became just that.

The visitors, a workmanlike outfit without any superstars, handed a lesson to the locals.

To survive at this level, you need to be quicker, more focused, more direct and technically better. There is no room for error. Mistakes will, and were, pounced on and punished. Playing catch-up is hardly an option in this professional environment.

Too often the home side appeared ponderous and only rarely threatened the Queensland goal.

Knights Football manager John Adshead will point to the limited match play in the build-up for his side. Indeed there were long periods, especially early in the first spell when the team appeared to have taken the training drills on to the match pitch, but that excuse will soon wear thin.

Continuing to play as they obviously do at practice in small-sided games in confined space, the Knights invited the opposition to come at them, close them down and steal possession.

They did that and a lot more in taking the initiative from the home side and putting the midfield and defence under constant pressure.

It was not pretty and, for the 3396 spectators, disappointing. Adshead has no doubt his players are fit. Maybe they were leg-weary, but that alone could not excuse the gun-shy performance in front of a crowd who gave the feeling they do want them to succeed and be taken along for the ride.

Experience is invaluable but alone will not win matches in this league. Football is played at pace. That, sadly, was lacking in vital areas. The introduction of Josh Rose, 23, and Jeremy Brockie, 17, added much-needed go-forward and gave hope that the Knights might turn things around.

In a game where there were no 50-50 balls - the Roar saw to that - the home side were always back-pedalling and under pressure. It was not until the 72nd minute that the Knights won the first of their three corners. Their attacking chances were almost as scarce.

Yet, within 40s of kick-off, they had a chance when Sean Devine broke through but, in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Scott Higgins, chipped the ball straight to him. It was nearly 40 minutes before they created a second opportunity when a Xiaobin Zhang freekick was played deep and headed back to Noah Hickey who blasted to some place else. Devine had two chances early in the second spell but they came to nought.

It was too much to expect Devine and Hickey to master a resolute, well-organised Roar defence.

The injection of Neil Emblen into the attack made little difference.

Adshead has high hopes for Simon Yeo and the much-needed spark he will bring.

It is early days and just under four weeks from the first round of the Hyundai A-League. There is much to be done if the Knights are to turn their first-up effort at North Harbour Stadium into something positive.

There is, from Adshead and captain Danny Hay, the promise they will be giving it their all.

But, from what we saw on Saturday, that alone might not be enough.