Talk of promotion is on hold for Hoppers Crossing after Saturday’s disappointing 1-0 loss to Altona City in Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 2 at Grange Reserve.
The Reds are in the midst of a form slump at the wrong time of the season, one that may scupper their bid for a third straight promotion.
They have lost three of their past four matches and are seven points outside the top two with seven games to play.
Reds coach Steve Iosifidis knows the road to another promotion is going to be tough.
“The last month has been disappointing,” Iosifidis said. “Mathematically, there’s still a chance and we certainly don’t throw in the towel … we’ll just take it game by game and try to enjoy it, as opposed to thinking we must win and have to win.
“My approach to the last seven games is to go out and enjoy it. Let’s take that pressure off.”
Hoppers Crossing has enjoyed plenty of success against Altona City in recent times.
Iosifidis had won all his three games against City as coach – but none were overly emphatic, with a one-goal margin able to settle it on each occasion. But the Reds’ luck finally came to an end.
City gave the Reds a dose of their own medicine, holding on to a 1-0 lead generated through a Matthew Gray strike in the 25th minute.
Gray was gifted a chance by an errant defensive clearance and powered it past a helpless Reds goalkeeper Kieron Sharratt.
“Apart from that, I would say they had more possession than we did, but there wasn’t really much in the game,” Iosifidis said.
Hoppers Crossing needs to find some confidence.
It comes up against bottom side Heidelberg Stars at Cartledge Reserve on Saturday.
But Iosifidis has warned his side to tread with caution against a Stars team looking to stave off relegation.
“These types of games are going to be just as hard,” he said. “Teams that are fighting for survival are not going to hand over three points on a silver platter.
“You have to work twice as hard. It’s going to be tough, it’s not going to be an easy ride.
“We need to bounce back and create a bit of confidence in the change room again.”
