Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic says he isn’t worried by his side’s misfiring attack despite another game without a goal in their A-League derby loss to Sydney FC on Saturday night.
Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic says he isn’t worried by his side’s misfiring attack despite another game without a goal in their A-League derby loss to Sydney FC on Saturday night.
Popovic’s troops toiled and created several exciting openings but drew a blank as Alessandro Del Piero’s goal handed the Sky Blues a 1-0 win at Parramatta Stadium.
It was the third straight game in which the competition’s new-boys have failed to score and they sit at the foot of the ladder with just a solitary point for the season.
But Popovic is refusing to panic, confident it won’t be long until things start to turn for his side.
“We’re getting in the right areas and we’re getting behind teams but it’s that final ball or getting something falling for us in the box,” the Wanderers boss said.
“If we’re not getting in the right areas in the final third I’d be very concerned but we are getting the ball in right areas.
“We are getting the players in the right areas but we need something to fall for us in that department.
“I can’t say anything bad about the players’ effort, work rate or commitment. We just need that something to happen for us in final third.”
In a passionate but scrappy first edition of the Sydney derby, it was Del Piero’s penalty incident which was the biggest talking point.
The Italian star twisted and turned past three defenders before going down in the box under an Aaron Mooy challenge.
The contact was slight but it was enough to bring Del Piero down and Popovic felt referee Strebre Delovski probably made the right call.
“I saw it once on the screen and wasn’t quite sure but my first thought was ‘penalty’,” Popovic said.
“I’m a little disappointed for the fans that came out and they go home disappointed losing the derby which is not nice because they’ve got one over us for now.
“But they’re with us on this journey. The fans, community, we’re all together in this. They can see the team is performing well, giving everything they’ve got.”
Asked if he believed the new rivalry with the Sky Blues was getting stronger, Popovic said: “Definitely. You can see it in the stands and we certainly felt it on the sideline.
“You could see the passion of both sets of players on the field.
“It felt like a real derby game which is what you want and what you expect.
“Unfortunately we didn’t come out on top but credit to (Sydney) they got the result.
“We move on, there’s a new challenge next week and we’ll keep improving and get to where we want to be.”
The Wanderers’ task of breaking through for their first win doesn’t get any easier next weekend with a clash against champions Brisbane Roar.
