Harbour View hurting without No. 9

May 31, 2023
Jerome McLeary (right) of Cavalier tries to steal the ball from Timar Lewis of Harbour View during the Jamaica Premier League semi-final match at Sabina Park on Monday. Cavalier won 1-0.
Jerome McLeary (right) of Cavalier tries to steal the ball from Timar Lewis of Harbour View during the Jamaica Premier League semi-final match at Sabina Park on Monday. Cavalier won 1-0.

Before the start of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) play-offs, Ludlow Bernard, the coach of defending champions Harbour View, was confident his team could retain their title without a reliable centre-forward.

However, after his team dominated their first-leg semifinal match against Cavalier on Monday but came out on the end of a 1-0 defeat, Bernard said they will have to figure out how to be more effective without a point man in attack.

"We had some good look-ins and really had the better of the game but at the end of the day you have nothing to show and you are behind," he told STAR Sports.

"We weren't really creative in the final third and that hurt us a bit. The lack of a genuine number nine is probably killing us right now, so there are some things we need to address going forward.

"I thought we did enough and showed enough that we can dominate this team (Cavalier) but we need to use that dominance to create and convert a bit more," Bernard said.

Orlando Russell came up with the game's only goal just minutes into the second half, after a pass at the back post. However, Bernard is convinced the tie is far from over and believes in his team's ability to turn this result around in Sunday's second leg.

"It's a 1-0 setback and if I do not have the ambition to overturn the result, then I do not deserve to be in this competition. I am not going to be perturbed about this. But do we have work to do? For sure.

"It is still a lead that can be overhauled and we just have to apply ourselves next time around. I am really not saying it's not going to be difficult but at the same time it is achievable. We can overhaul this lead," he said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

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