Friday, 20 July 2012 9:39 AM
By George Kouroumalis
South Melbourne FC take on Richmond tonight, in a must win game at Lakeside Stadium.
After a disappointing result at home last week to Green Gully, South need to bounce back immediately if they are to have any chance of playing finals football in 2012.
In a big loss for the home side, South will go into the game without Tom Matthews, who has been suspended for a month after being sent off for dissent. Matthews is expected to be replaced by fellow Englishman Shaun Kelly, who will be looking to make a mark in his debut game for the club. Kelly is a fast and versatile defender, who will hopefully fill the massive void that has been created by Matthews’ suspension.
In the attacking third, South will need to break down a stubborn Richmond defence, with the Rixon-Burton combination needing to fire for South to take the three points. Rixon’s last goal for the club was in the Round 4 against Richmond, and he is in desperate need to find the back of the net as a reward for his hard work in the past month.
Richmond will not be an easy opponent, with the Eagles also sitting on 18 points and eyeing off a spot in the top five.
While being a team known for its defensive strength, Richmond will be keen to get the ball to the feet of a potent attacking trio of Tom Cahill, Daniel Visevic and Kyle Joryeff. Joryeff is well known to South fans, having recently transfered from South Melbourne to Richmond during the transfer window. Cahill also joined the club during the transfer window and scored a double last Friday against Heidelberg United, whilst Visevic is a slick attacking player who will look to break down the South defence.
In the last meeting between the two clubs, an early goal by Richmond was cancelled out by a Trent Rixon header for a one all draw.
The match at Lakeside Stadium kicks off at 8.30pm.