North Queensland coach Ian Ferguson admitted his side still misses too many chances and is making ‘silly errors’ after losing 3-2 to Newcastle in their Hyundai A-League clash at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Fury started well against the Jets with Dyron Daal, who earned a rare starting spot, hitting the post in the 16th minute before the Jets grabbed two goals midway through the first half. But as is customary for the North Queensland side it fought back to level the match via strikes from Daal in the 44th and 61st minute.
The Fury looked like they might go on to claim a valuable away victory when skipper Robbie Fowler and winger Jeremy Brockie created golden goal-scoring opportunities. But neither could find the target and to make matters worse the northerners conceded a late goal to Sasho Petrovski seven minutes from full-time to leave Newcastle empty-handed.
“It is a sore one to take but these are the sport of errors we have to cut out. We are not learning. We keep coming in here week-in, week-out so we need to stop losing silly goals and it had happened again today,” Ferguson said after the match.
“I felt as though the first 20 minutes we started well, the big fella (Daal) was unlucky and hit the post and then we found ourselves down 2-0.”
“A minute before half-time we scramble a goal and we knew then we were still in the match but going 2-0 down is an uphill battle especially coming to Newcastle – they are very good team, but to get that goal on half-time gave us the little lift we needed.”
“And without ranting or raving too much I felt the boys went out and did a good job in the second half. I think the amount of chances we had and created, especially in the second half, if we could have put one or two of those away perhaps we could have scraped a draw.”
“But credit to Newcastle they put us under the pump. After 20 minutes or so they were probably the better team. But I felt the second half we hemmed them in and I don’t think they could get out because of the wind and we missed a lot of chances.”
Ferguson attributed part of the loss to the weariness of some of his players after a hectic schedule of three games in nine days, but he said he is buoyed by the fact his team is still very competitive on the park and creating chances.
“We had a lot of tired people there towards the end and I think in about the 80th minute we lost our legs a little bit so we tried to freshen up and put some subs on but Newcastle again to their credit rolled us. Sasho Petrovski I think it was, rolled us in the penalty box and sticks it away,” he said.
“To have three games in nine days, I know we have only got three points out of them and the Brisbane Roar game was probably our bad day at the office, but I would be worried if we weren’t creating chances.”
“To come here and score two goals from 2-0 down to make us 2-2 and have the chance to go on and win it was pleasing. We missed a couple of chances at times but Newcastle was able to go on with it and score a goal that they will be pleased with but we are very disappointed in.”
The loss sees the Fury slide back to the bottom of the table, but just a win outside the top six. However Ferguson stressed his side could not afford any more ‘slip ups’.
“It is still pretty close. I said to the boys we have four games at home and we have to make them count and we can’t slip up anymore,” Ferguson said.
“That is probably the last slip-up we can have and if we do it again it is going to be an uphill battle.”
“But until it is mathematically impossible we will keep going, we will keep trying.”
