Entering Sunday’s showdown with Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar sacked their head coach, were winless in seven matches and languished at the foot of the Isuzu UTE A-League standings.
By the end of the day, the Roar snapped their drought and climbed off the bottom of the table with a 2-1 win over Perth in Nick Green’s first game in charge at Kayo Stadium.
They were also more attacking and entertaining in front of their fans. Brisbane adopting a more front-foot approach.
“For me, it’s probably the biggest win since I’ve been at the club,” Roar captain and goalscorer Tom Aldred told Paramount+.
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Brisbane were staring at an eighth consecutive game without victory when Jack Clisby curled home the opener in the 19th minute.
However, Aldred’s thunderous header nine minutes later and Henry Hore’s strike on the stroke of half-time gave ‘The Den’ something to celebrate as the Roar ushered in the Green era.
“The change in manager during the week and we’ve been so long without a win,” Aldred said as the Roar claimed just their fourth win of the season.
“It was a huge effort from the boys. It wasn’t pretty at times but that’s what happens when you’ve gone so long without a win.”
Through 18 rounds, Brisbane are now ninth in the table, ahead of Perth on goal difference.
Heading into the business end of the season, the Roar are just four points adrift of the top six in the race to the finals.
“It’s huge. Wins change the moods in camps. This will do the same for us,” Aldred added.
“It’s a massive win in front of our fans. We just have to kick-on from this and back it up.
Everyone outside the club probably rights off Brisbane Roar but that won’t happen under my watch.
‘We want to stop worrying about the opposition’
UK export Green laid out his vision after the interim boss oversaw a confidence-boosting victory over the visiting Glory.
The Roar turned to former Brisbane City coach Green – who holds a UEFA A coaching license – until the end of the season amid their search for a permanent Moon replacement.
He made an immediate impact on Sunday.
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“It’s been a tough week for the boys and to come through like that, it shows character,” said the former Hartlepool and Lincoln City coach.
“We’re like the walking wounded at the moment. We have some senior pros out. To come through a game like that, after the adversity of this week and being bottom of the table, the only way is up.”
For the first time since Round 5, Brisbane scored more than two goals in a match.
It’s a telling fact and a clear change in direction, having struggled for goals under Moon.
“We’re looking at a couple parts of our game where we can score goals. We want goals. If you don’t score goals, you’re not going to win games,” Green said.
“It’s been an area we’ve looked at all week… we’ve concentrated on three main areas (transition and restarts) this week.”
Brisbane have eight fixtures remaining as they eye finals football. It’s something they believe in.
“We can (go on a run). We have the belief in the group. We’ve let the shackles off a bit.
“We want to engage a little bit higher and cause teams problems.
We want to stop worrying about the opposition so to speak. We want to get at teams, we want to win games.”
Zadkovich doesn’t mince his words
“We shipped two pretty s*** goals,” was part of Ruben Zadkovich’s analysis after the Glory slumped to another away loss.
Perth have only won one of their nine games on the road this season – 2-1 over Central Coast Mariners in October.
There away woes were on display at Kayo Stadium, where Perth were left in 10th position, adrift of Brisbane on goal difference.
“I thought we started the game really well. We were definitely on top. WE probably should’ve been two or three up,” said head coach Zadkovich.
“But we shipped two pretty s*** goals to be honest. The set-piece is poor and the second goal comes from our own mistake. Young Cooky could’ve done better with that one too.
“They’re soft goals to give away then we’re chasing the game and we give them something to believe in.”
Football, though, took a backseat after the game following a nasty incident involving veteran defender Darryl Lachman.
Lachman left the field in the back of an ambulance after a sickening clash of heads with Henry Hore.
There was a lengthy delay in play as he received attention.
“He was fine on the ground and was going to continue. They strapped his head up and when he stood up he lost consciousness,” Zadkovich said.
“A very scary moment not just for him but for everyone involved.
“Our thoughts are with Daz right now.”
Report – AAP
Interim Brisbane Roar head coach Nick Green started his tenure in the best possible fashion with a comeback 2-1 home win over Perth Glory in an A-League Men clash that featured a new playing style for the home side.
The Roar sacked Warren Moon on Monday after a run of poor form and replaced him on an interim basis with Englishman Green.
Green said in his press conference on Saturday he had a 22-point plan to turn the club around, but added he had identified three he would aim to implement in the eight weeks of his interim contract.
It was clear up-tempo, attacking football is on his agenda as the Roar played with enterprise and fire in the belly on a warm Sunday afternoon in Redcliffe.
The match was marred by a head injury to Glory central defender Darryl Lachman, who was taken to hospital by ambulance after a clash with the Roar’s Henry Hore in the 87th minute. The incident forced the game to be halted for 10 minutes.
The Roar, now on 20 ALM points, hadn’t won in their past seven games and will now entertain hopes of making the finals if they can keep this style of play up, as they are just four points outside the top six.
Glory coach Ruben Zadkovich’s week had a bizarre tinge to it after he was forced to deny a rumour that he had punched Perth midfielder Giordano Colli.
Zadkovich explained on Friday that their alleged bust-up was just a collision of bodies at training. Colli came on in the 79th minute against the Roar.
Glory opened the scoring with a brilliant goal in the 19th minute. Midfielder Mustafa Amini sent a floating cross to left back Jack Clisby, who controlled it with his left foot before sending a scorching right-footer past goalkeeper Jordan Holmes.
Brisbane hit back with their finest goal provider Carlo Armiento curling a corner onto the head of their best player Tom Aldred in the 28th minute.
The Roar played with more passion than recent months, with Armiento having a push-and-shove with Glory’s Salim Khelifi just before half-time.
That fired the home side up with attacking midfielder Hore scoring what proved the decisive goal moments later in the 45th minute.
Both sides had chances in the second half but could not convert.
