The end in Kapfenberg hurt. Coach Manfred Schmid wants to see a reaction from his players against Hartberg.
The spirit of optimism after the celebrated first win of the season at LASK has evaporated again at Austria. The goalless draw against Altach was followed by a blow in the neck in the ÖFB Cup on Tuesday. The second round off in Kapfenberg again caused discord among the Viennese. TSV Hartberg is hoping to land the first home win of the season against the Violets on Sunday (2.30 p.m.).
In the table, both clubs are in the middle of the tightly packed area between places four and eleven. Hartberg is sixth with nine points, Austria tenth with eight points. The Oststeirer had three better ends for themselves in the past season before the Viennese struck back. In the European Cup play-off they won convincingly 3-0 away. One can only dream of such a result in the “Veilchen” camp at the moment.
“Two fields back”
Manfred Schmid saw another setback in development in the trip to Kapfenberg. “A defeat like this changes the mood of every individual. It's like when you are well on your way with a board game and then you are thrown out and have to go two fields back,” said the Austria coach. But the game has already been worked up again, a reaction is sought: “I expect from the team that one tears up for the other and that we do everything we can to win the game.”
Schmid once again hoped for more precision in the passing game, movement and more efficiency on the offensive. Marco Djuricin and Co. also left good opportunities in the cup, followed by a fight and cramp and a lost penalty shoot-out. The deficiency in exploiting opportunities has been going on for a few laps. Vesel Demaku, who saw yellow and red last week, will be missing in Hartberg. Otherwise all men are available to Schmid.
Hartberg is complete
Kurt Russ from Hartberg reported no failures at all. “A win would be good for the psyche, then you could take a deep breath,” said Hartberg's coach before the game. The opponent is difficult to assess. “We don't know exactly where Austria is at the moment. Austria was thrown out in the cup, but played very well before that. Not everyone wins against LASK away from home. They are definitely on the up,” Russ assumed.
His team was also only partially convincing in the cup, with regional league Union Gurten there was a meager 1-0 win. Hartberg last played at home on August 28th, for central defender Manfred Gollner “what felt like an eternity” ago. In the previous three home appearances, there was only one draw with two defeats. The top scorer is the former Austrian Dario Tadic, who scored four of the Hartberger's twelve goals. At Austria, Djuricin holds three goals – of only eight of the Viennese.
