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"We showed character" - Howieson

Words: ACFC Media

Sunday 10 November 2019

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC skipper Cam Howieson has downplayed the physical nature of today's 2-2 draw with Team Wellington.

The 24-year-old was one of eight players to go into referee Cory Mills notebook but while there were some crunching tackles, Howieson said it was understandable with the intensity of the Auckland-Wellington rivalry in recent years.

"When you're out there it's very heated and there's a rivalry in the game and a lot of the players know each other and so you want to win these games.

"Those battles and 50-50s might look quite bad at times and I know there was a few niggly tackles today but both teams wanted to win the game and it's tough for the referee.

"There were a few yellow cards that could've been worse but the refs got a hard job esepcially with a rivalry like this," he said.

The Navy Blues struggled to get to grips with the visitors and Howieson acknowledged the slow start didn't help.

"We didn't get off to the best start and it took us a wee while to get into the game and into the groove of things.

AUDIO - "We showed great character" - Howieson

"We went 1-0 up but I think we've conceded a poor first goal and we'll have to look back at that and I think we can do better in those areas leading up to the goal.

"Second half they grabbed an early goal and the boys showed character in the last half an hour. We probably played our best football in the game in the last half hour of the game which is very positive.

"It can't be just half an hour and it has to get up to 80 or 90 minutes where we perform and we'll be looking next week to start a lot better," he said.

Howieson said it was great to see Myer Bevan and Logan Rogerson on the scoresheet and believes it's the first of many to come.

"They've come in a bit late because of international duty but they've shown a good attitude and worked very hard and it's a new system that we're trying to learn.

RESULTS | Here's a re-cap on how all the @ISPSHanda Premiership action unfolded over the weekend

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— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) November 11, 2019

"We're all still learning and getting to grips with it.

"But those two have real talent and a hunger to their game and they help the other players with their movements on and off the ball.

"It's good to see them put the ball in the back of the net and hopefully there's more to come from them," Howieson told www.aucklandcityfc.com.

Ends

Match Details
ISPS Handa Premiership
Sunday 10 November 2019
Auckland City FC 2 (Myer BEVAN 24'-pen, Logan ROGERSON 79')
Team Wellington 2 (Oliver BASSETT 39', Hamish WATSON 48'-pen)
HT: 1-1.

AC: 18. Conor TRACEY (GK), 2. Mario ILICH, 3. Adam MITCHELL, 4. Mario BILEN, 6. Brian KALTAK, 7. Cam HOWIESON (c), 9. Myer BEVAN (21. Maro BONSU-MARO 85'), 10. Dylan MANICKUM (19. David BROWNE 68'), 14. Jordan VALE, 17. Andrew BLAKE, 20. Logan ROGERSON.

SUBS NOT USED: 24. Cameron BROWN (GK), 5. Angel BERLANGA, 16. Yousif ALI.

COACH: Jose FIGUEIRA.