Brisbane Roar’s famous passing game is back – but luck has deserted the defending Hyundai A-League champions, according to frustrated coach Rado Vidosic.
Brisbane Roar’s famous passing game is back – but luck has deserted the defending Hyundai A-League champions, according to frustrated coach Rado Vidosic.
Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Adelaide United was the Roar’s second straight defeat at home but it was not through a lack of trying.
Vidosic’s men held the lion’s share of possession and ticked just about every box except when it came to scoring goals.
Chance after chance was either blocked by the visitors’ resolute defence, batted away by heroic Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic or spurned by Brisbane’s usually potent strike force.
“It just looks like we’ve run out of luck. Last year we were lucky at times but this year there is none,” Vidosic said.
“We just need to believe in ourselves and work hard, because we’ve got the quality to turn the corner.
“You can only hope that sooner or later we’re going to start scoring goals and winning the games again.”
Although the result sends Brisbane down to eighth spot on the ladder – they could be ninth if Melbourne Victory beat Wellington on Monday – there were plenty of positives for Vidosic.
“We created enough chances against a team that defended desperately,” he said.
“Any other day we would score a couple of goals and that would probably be enough.
“Our structure was excellent and we kept the ball in the opponent’s half for long periods of time, maybe we didn’t do that in the first few games.
“We are looking (like) the old Brisbane Roar from the last two years. Now we just need to be patient.
“Once we score that first goal I’m sure we’re going to look much more different then.
“But you cannot question the effort, it was fantastic. That’s not the problem.”
Vidosic defended his decision not to call on his substitutes earlier in an effort to snap the Roar’s barren streak in front of goal.
Only young forward Nick Fitzgerald came off the bench, and when he did there was less than 10 minutes to go.
“There was no need to change,” Vidosic said.
“Once we made our substitution, they took over a little bit in those last seven or eight minutes, before those last few corners.
“Whenever you make substitutions it can go either way and I was a bit reluctant to make them.”
Henrique made his first start for Brisbane this season after overcoming a niggling heel injury and could stay in the first XI next week instead of winger Ben Halloran.
The former Gold Coast prodigy was a late withdrawal due to illness and will have a battle on his hands with the Brazilian over the wide right position once he recovers.
Vidosic admitted striker Besart Berisha played under duress but said his injury concerns were not the reason for the Roar’s lack of cutting edge.
“He hasn’t been 100 per cent fit. He’s carrying this abdominal problem but that’s not an excuse, he lasted 90 minutes,” he said.
