Rab Smith

Four second-half goals by Hawkes Bay nullified Otago United's two-goal start in Napier and a sorry bunch of blue shirts trooped off Bluewater Stadium with nothing to show in a 4-2 defeat yesterday.

Hopes of a top four placing are fading as Otago United prepares to travel north to play Hawkes Bay at Napier's Bluewater Stadium tomorrow.

Otago United and Manawatu had to settle for a battling 2-2 draw in the ASB Premiership match played yesterday at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Coach Richard Murray may be forced to change his team line-up when Otago United plays Manawatu at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow.

Waitakere's Roy Krishna was too hot for Otago United in the 5-0 defeat inflicted in the ASB Premiership match in Auckland yesterday.

Does lightning strike twice? Is it conceivable that Otago United can dish out another defeat to Waitakere, when the teams meet at Auckland's Fred Taylor Park tomorrow?

Wellington kept a nose in front to beat Otago United 2-1 in a fluctuating ASB Premiership match yesterday at the Caledonian ground.

Otago United received a boost before tomorrow's match against Wellington when Darren Overton declared he would be available to play in the critical match at the Caledonian Ground.

Waikato kept faith with its short passing game and went on to beat Otago United 2-0 with late goals in Dunedin yesterday.

Otago United may not be at full strength tomorrow but its opponent, Waikato, has "aspirations to play like Barcelona", and that should create an intriguing match in Dunedin.