"FIRE AND PASSION" THE KEY AGAINST BOGEY SIDE AUE
Friday, 15. February 2019, 18:04 Uhr
After the rollercoaster ride involving the 3-2 late show win over visiting Union Berlin and the 4-1 defeat at FC Cologne last week, the Boys in Brown aim to return to winning ways on Saturday (1300 CET). Erzgebirge Aue come to the Millerntor on the back of two defeats, so they will be out to get a result, too, something they have done regularly in recent years. To ensure that doesn't happen, the Boys in Brown have been drumming up the necessary fire and passion in training.
The sense of excitement ahead of the top-of-the-table clash at FC Cologne was palpable, as was the disillusionment in the aftermath of the 4-1 reverse. After the thrilling victory against Union Berlin, the Boys in Brown had had high hopes going into the game, hopes that were dashed quite emphatically. While the players were unanimous in describing the defeat against an excellent Cologne side as a setback, they have taken it in their stride. They have analysed the performance, drawn a line under it and are now fully focused on Saturday.
Preparations for the visit of Aue have been in full swing since Monday. Anyone who visited the training ground during the week will have seen a good mix of concentration and tenseness. The players got stuck in on the pitch; no tackles were shirked in the battle for places. Though the Boys in Brown won more of the challenges at Cologne, they didn't win the key ones. Against Aue, they will have to win those tackles if they are going to take all three points.
On the subject of three points, Aue are the only team apart from Dynamo Dresden who have yet to taste victory since the turn of the year. The Violets, who won the reverse fixture against the Boys in Brown 3-1, lost 1-0 at Magdeburg and 3-0 at home to Ingolstadt to miss the opportunity to ease the pressure in the lower reaches of the table. As a result, the gap to the drop zone has been cut to just six points. Daniel Meyer's charges will want to show the right response at the Millerntor by getting a result, something they have achieved in each of their last six visits (three wins and three draws).
A response is something the Boys in Brown are targeting, too. After the disappointing 2-1 defeat at Darmstadt, they promised a reaction and promptly delivered by seeing off the challenge of high-flying Union Berlin. So after the reverse at Cologne, they will be going flat out to secure their seventh home win of the season against bogey side Aue. "We have to play like we did against Union – with fire and passion, a compact formation and quick forward play," said Mats Møller Dæhli, highlighting the plan of action for Saturday.
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Info for anyone planning to travel to the Millerntor using the underground line U3: due to construction work on the track no trains will run between the stations Rathaus and Berliner Tor up to and including Sunday, 24 February. A rail replacement service will be in operation during this time. Please note that the Rathaus stop is not barrier-free! Please also note that the home game against FC Ingolstadt on Saturday, 23 February, will also be affected by the restrictions.
Owing to the building site on Heiligengeistfeld, there may be slight delays gaining access to the East Stand (Gegengerade). Unlike the last home game against Union Berlin, however, all the entrances will be open.
Photos: Witters
