Soccer: Time for some real action from Knights

Three away trips for a nil return, apart from a couple of consolation goals in losing to Adelaide on Sunday, do not appear to have dampened New Zealand Knights spirits too much.

But, surely it is time for the talk to stop and some real action to start.

The off-field uncertainty continues - a new chief executive has yet to be named and the appointment of UK-born and based Barry Simmonds as the club's director of football again shuns local candidates who fans might have supported.

Simmonds, another close confidant of Knights chairman Anthony Lee to have been appointed at the club, points out he is a naturalised New Zealander. That, and his experience with English clubs in a variety of roles, might not alone be enough to quickly turn a losing team around. Plenty will be holding their breaths that he can.

Of more pressing importance is tonight's game against Hyundai A-League front-runners Melbourne Victory at North Harbour Stadium.

Even allowing Victory skipper Kevin Muscat is suspended, the visitors come here as the team to beat and with the confidence of having beaten the Knights 3-0 at the same ground seven weeks ago.

Coach Paul Nevin remained upbeat at training this week.

"Two goals in the back of net, we'll take them no matter how they came," said Nevin who, despite the team's lack of results, did not feel under any pressure. "While I have not officially been given the stamp of approval, I'm on short-term contract.

"I'm happy and confident I am doing the best job anyone could do at the football club."

Nevin conceded the Knights had been exposed for their lack of pace on defence against Adelaide but said that shortcoming was compensated by the experience players like Darren Bazeley, Che Bunce and Neil Emblen brought.

"It is the first time they have been caught like that. We have defended pretty well until now."

Defending is one part of the equation. Scoring goals is the other.

With influential midfielder Richard Johnson and striker Sean Devine out for at least four weeks, Jonas Salley still three to four weeks away with his ankle injury, Dani Rodrigues and Matt Carbon gone for the season and Mark Paston and Michael White in Vietnam with New Zealand A, the stocks are thin.

Adam Casey's promise up front against Adelaide must be converted into goals now he has been given the attacking freedom alongside newcomers Fernando de Moraes and Campbell Banks.

Hamza Mohammed joins Scot Gemmill and Malik Buari in the engine-room and will need to support the front-runners.


NZ Knights v Melbourne Victory

North Harbour Stadium, 8pm today

Knights (from): Danny Milosevic, Darren Bazeley, Greg Duruz, Che Bunce, Neil Emblen, Scot Gemmill, Jonti Richter, Malik Buari, Noah Hickey, Adam Casey, Sime Kovacevic, Hamza Mohammed, Campbell Banks, Fernando de Moraes, Michael Turnbull.