September 2, 2022...Nine Stripes Seek West Coast Win and Look to Avoid Purple Haze Against Pacific FC (from York United site)

NINE STRIPES SEEK WEST COAST WIN AND LOOK TO AVOID PURPLE HAZE AGAINST PACIFIC FC

The last leg of a three-game road trip sees York United face the reigning champions.

In the 2022 Canadian Premier League, York United are without a win against the defending champions
Pacific FC and so there is enough motivation to nib this wretched statistic this afternoon.

The Nine Stripes are at Starlight Stadium for the second time this season aiming to pull the victory
rag from under the feet of the Tridents who lost on the road last week.

July’s 4-2 defeat at home still remains fresh in the mind of the boss, Martin Nash, who wants the lads
to cut out the mistakes that cost them the points.

He recounted: "I thought we did some great things in that game, created a lot of opportunities,
took the lead twice, which is brilliant but we were a bit sloppy in the last 30 minutes and gave away
a lead and a result."

"It wasn't great in the end but there's a lot of good takeaways. There's also some things we've got
to look at from that game that we can't allow happen on Saturday."

To ensure points aren't left on the table this time, Nash pointed to a need for defensive cohesion
if they're to suffocate James Merriman’s side.

"We've got to get better in transition and more solid defensively in a lot of ways. We gave away some
sloppy goals that we hadn't been giving away early in the year so we've just got to be a bit more
solid like we were last week," he intimated.

Last week’s performance at Cavalry was encouraging despite falling 1-0 and the task is to replicate
that performance but with more clinical moments in front of goal.

Nash added:

"I think that guys are in a good mood, they're in a good place. We know it's not gonna be easy but
no games are in this league. We're gonna have to go and put in a performance but we have a lot
of guys playing for positions right now. It's competitive in the group and in training and we're
seeing that in matches, which is great."

Sitting seventh in the table and with six matches to end the season, securing a playoff spot looks
a gargantuan task. That notwithstanding, the Gaffer is settling for less and has explained
the importance of approaching each game with a positive mentality to win.

He sums it up by saying: "The draws don’t really get us anywhere. I want to get this group
in the mindset that you're going forward into next year of being on the front foot and looking
to win games. If we're in the position that we need to take a risk I'm more than willing to do so
and go for it instead of just sitting back and accepting a draw. Earlier in the season you might
take the draw and get out of there. Right now, I think it doesn't really help us so we might
as well go for the win."

OPPONENT WATCH:

Striker Manny Aparicio is suspended for the match due to yellow card accumulation.

In the last league match, Pacific were handed a 1-0 defeat Valour.

They are fourth on the table 35 points; five points behind leaders Atletico Ottawa.

Ridwan Ibrahim Asante

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