Fraser's return a major boost
Alan Kennedy | 3rd July 2010
THE return of Webbers Retravision Cougars captain Tristan Fraser after injury is good news but also a headache for coach Brad Smith.
Tristan Fraser is set to return against the Strikers.
File
THE return of Webbers Retravision Cougars captain Tristan Fraser after injury is good news but also a headache for coach Brad Smith.
Fraser looks certain to start against Brisbane Strikers at Berry Park tonight as the Cougars not only try to beat the Strikers for the first time this season, but also score their first goal against them.
Smith hinted he would change things around again, with Martyn Davis trying out in the strikers’ role during training this week.
“Yes, we are still searching for that illusive striker,” Smith said.
“Davis had been considered for the front-running position many times before but other players were always named instead of him.
“Now it is his chance and he doesn’t have to score too many times to impress as the lead scorer for the Cougars Fergus McIntosh and he scored just three times.”
Smith knows the Brisbane team has no such problem as their front man, Chris Thurtell, has found the net more often than the whole of the Cougars team put together.
A key in getting a result is keeping Thurtell quiet and Smith hints that job might be handed to Michael Kay.
While Kay put in a poor performance as a full-back last week in Townsville, he has more pace then defender Ben McMaster and it would give Smith an opportunity to return Rob Lupton to full-back, with Gilly Buckley taking the position on the other side of the park.
One certainty is Justin McMullen will not be involved this week.
McMullen trained with the squad having recently returned from South Africa but Smith has told him he will not be required for this match.
An area where Smith wants improvement is in the middle of the park.
“In the two games we’ve played this season they have overrun us in the middle of the park,” he said.
“They have the strongest mid field in the competition.
“If we can be tight and compact we can slow them down as they try to move the ball up front.”
Oliver Saunders, along with Eduardo is under consideration for one of the three spots in the middle of the park. Saunders is probably favourite for the position, as he provided some organisation when he came on as a substitute in Townsville.
Although the Strikers are expected to play a similar style of football to the other two meetings this season, it will be the first time the Cougars have faced the Brisbane team without Stu McLaren at the helm.
“I don’t think they will play differently,” Smith said.
“We believe on two occasions we played them we got two good results and yet they were also our two worst performances this season.
“We did not create anything against, we just did not play.”
The Cougars lost 1-nil Brisbane, and drew nil-nil at Ryan Park.
No games at Brisbane are easy but the strikers have shown they have few weaknesses but will be up to the cougars to exploit those.
It looks as if an A-league team will be coming to Rockhampton towards the end of this month.
Cental Coast Mariners are keen to return to Rockhampton to play against the Cougars but at this point Cougars chief executive Bevan Dingley said it was subject to approval.
HYUNDAI QSL
The Cougars squad to play against Brisbane Strikers at Brisbane today:
(From) Tim English, Guillame Buckley, Ben McMaster, Dai Thomas, Michael Cay, Oliver Saunders, Rob Lupton, Anthony Hartnell, Fergus McIntosh, Tom Evans, Martyn Davies, Bryce Ruthven; Bench: Evan Wilkinson, Jordan Polkinghorne, Tristan Fraser and Brydon Hume.
Coach: Brad Smith; assistants, Tim Grentell and Frank Murray
Points after Round 14: Sunshine Coast 37, Brisbane Strikers 27, Razorbacks 26, FNQ Bulls 22, QAS 13, Miners 12, Cougars 11, Bundaberg 6.
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