New Zealand Knights coach Paul Nevin is getting nervous.
In a well-timed tirade, his players copped the backlash in training this week from last Saturday's debacle in Newcastle. Harsh words have been reverberating around the dressing-room at North Harbour in the aftermath of a poor 3-0 loss to the Jets.
"We have had words," Nevin admitted.
"We looked disjointed throughout but got through 75 minutes and were, in all honesty, just hanging on.
"It was not acceptable - especially conceding from a set play," said Nevin, who witnessed the drubbing from the stands, as he served the second week of his two-match touchline ban.
"It gave me the opportunity to see it from a different perspective - but it still wasn't pretty," he conceded.
Knights fans are continuing to lose patience with a team who have scored just once in eight outings.
Nevin has made enforced changes for the game in Adelaide tomorrow. Striker Sean Devine is out with a back injury, to be replaced by Campbell Banks. Greg Duruz returns from suspension and Malik Buari from injury. Third goalkeeper Mark Paston, yet to play for the Knights, and Michael White, who came off the bench against Newcastle, have been released and will join New Zealand A on their flight to Vietnam tomorrow.
Brazilian midfielder Fernando de Moraes, who looked sharp in a couple of hit-outs at training this week after switching to the Knights from South Melbourne, will travel but will need a late clearance to play in Adelaide.
"We are looking to have him registered and there is a possibility he will be eligible to play," said Nevin.
The Knights need all the help they can get and, in de Moraes, the hope is he might provide some much-needed creative spark.
Adelaide will have their coach John Kosmina in the stand as he begins a four-match ban - but, given their impressive last-up win in Melbourne, the hosts will be on the front foot anyway and looking to continue their climb.
In tonight's match of the round, Sydney FC are at home to Melbourne Victory. It promises to be a battle royal, as both seek to bounce back from losses last weekend.
