City can close in on the championship, says Palatsides

[Murfy1]

City can close in on the championship, says Palatsides

 

Shaun Moran

 

 January 25, 2015

 

 

Melbourne City boss Joe Palatsides has emphasised the need for his side to retain its focus in the forthcoming five rounds as it seeks to achieve its quest of taking out the Foxtel National Youth League title.

 

Although returning to the top of the table after trumping Sydney FC in the final minute of injury time in Ballarat on Saturday, it was far from an easy ride for Palatside’s men, who needed a 93rd minute penalty from Hernan Espindola to ensure they returned to Melbourne with all three points.

 

Northcote City’s Wade Dekker had City on its way on the hour mark, before Charles Lokoli Ngoy’s goal fifteen minutes from time looked to have stolen a point for the visitors.

 

The winner did eventually come for Melbourne in the game’s closing moments to the delight of their coach.

“I congratulated the boys for working hard,” Palatsides said.

 

“We had a bit of a lull in that second half but we never stopped trying. That perseverance and determination was what got us over the line.”

 

A trip to the AIS to face the hapless FFA Centre of Excellence appears to be a straightforward proposal for the league flyers, yet Palatsides is taking nothing for granted at this stage of the competition.

 

“The youth league’s pretty evenly balanced,” he affirmed.

 

“Even if the AIS only have one point, they don’t get blown out of the water very often, so if you’re not on your game, anything can happen. We’ll be trying to guard against complacency.

 

“But for us, with five games to go, we really want to finish the season off strongly. We emphasised that before the game and we do well, there’s every chance that these boys will be champions of the league and they’d deserve it because of all the hard work they’ve put in.”

 

The City coach went on to throw his backing behind Morshead Park in Ballarat as a venue, which he believes is more than capable of hosting an A-League match for points in the future.

 

“I don’t see why not,” he said.

 

“I’m not too sure if certain criteria’s have to be met, [but] if there was an FFA Cup game played here it would have to be very close [to meeting those requirements]”.

 

http://www.mfootball.com.au/city/