Mackay and Whitsundays needs to turn statistical dominance from FFA Cup clash into goals and wins

Following a disappointing FFA Cup clash, Magpies Crusaders coach Tom Ballantyne has found the positives in the defeat ahead of their NPL fixture.

Melad Ahmad during the Magpies Crusaders 3-1 loss to Edge Hill in the FFA Cup. Picture: MCU

Winning in every statistical category but the scoresheet isn’t something the Magpies Crusaders are used to, but they’ll take confidence into Saturday’s match despite a loss in their last match.

Mackay and Whitsundays dropped its home FFA Cup clash against Edge Hill 3-1; a game the side was favoured to win.

Magpies Crusaders coach Tom Ballantyne said it was frustrating to see the side dominate without any reward.

“If you look at the statistics we actually played well, we had 700 passes, had 70 per cent possession, we had more shots at goal, more on goal, we won more challenges and aerial contests,” he said.

“We won every statistical piece of data we can pull, but we just lost on the scoresheet.”

Kyren Walters during the Magpies Crusaders 3-1 loss to Edge Hill in the FFA Cup. Picture: MCU

Mackay and Whitsundays will play Brisbane Strikers at home on Saturday, and Ballantyne said it was a good opportunity to claim some much-needed points.

“We go into every game expecting to win, but it’s hard to maintain a level of confidence when you concede a goal early,” he said.

“Some of the players completely switch off when the whistle blows, they get enthralled in the game rather than concentrating on the job at hand.”

The Strikers recently fired their head coach, and Ballantyne said it was a good time to play the side on the bottom of the table.

“They’ve changed their formation, they used to play a strict 4-4-2 formation, but since then they’ve played four different formations in six games,” Ballantyne said.

“We’re a bit unknown in what they’ll do in that respect, but they’ve got similar players that they had last time we played them, we’ve still identified key weaknesses in their team through individual players, and we’ll still target them.

“It’s a benefit in a way, because they might be confused in what they’re doing and have lapses in concentration.”

The Magpies Crusaders will play at Sologinkin Oval on Saturday at 7.30pm, with entry free for the clash.

Originally published as Mackay and Whitsundays needs to turn statistical dominance from FFA Cup clash into goals and wins