Soccer: Bayswater City looking to return to winning ways against Floreat Athena

FOURTH-placed Bayswater City players are aiming to regain mental toughness against rivals Floreat Athena this weekend.

After five-straight losses, City is sitting on 36 points and trail by seven points behind ladder-leaders Perth Glory, while Athena is in eighth place with 26 points.

Coach Chris Coyne said his players have recovered well and he is looking forward to a traditionally tough game for his team.

“Floreat have ex-Bayswater under-18s coach Garrett McDulling there and he will have them well structured,” he said.

“Floreat are a good side and we are well aware of their potential so we will be prepared

“We have a few players back this week and no new injury concerns.”

Coyne said the coaching staff sat the players down on Tuesday and would see how they react at the weekend.

“We need to be mentally stronger and that’s very hard to work on in training,” he said.

“The players always work hard in training but we seemed to have lost that mental belief or toughness.”

Coyne was pleased with the on-going improvement of younger players coming through.

“What they need to be mindful of is that they are still young players learning the game and getting the opportunity in the first team,” he said.

“They are not first team players yet and must respect that fact.”

With just five rounds to go, Coyne said the team must attempt to win every game to even give themselves a “fighting chance” of defending its premiership.