Melbourne City coach John van’t Schip concedes his team needs to improve against counter-attacking opposition after failing to fire in their defeat to Brisbane Roar.
The visitors commanded the bulk of possession but were unable muster a single shot on goal in response to Jamie Maclaren’s early opener.
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The defeat is City’s second in three matches following a loss in similar circumstances to Perth Glory two weeks ago.
“We knew (Brisbane) would defend and try to get us on the counter,” van’t Schip said.
“The boys put in an unbelievable effort but we couldn’t penetrate.
“We’ll get more teams that are going to defend and park the bus and get us on the counter. We have to deal with that and find solutions.”
While acknowledging it wasn’t planned, van’t Schip cited Tim Cahill’s completion of the full 90 minutes as a positive after fitness concerns ruled the attacker out of Ange Postecoglou’s latest Caltex Socceroos squad.
“Maybe if it was another kind of game (he wouldn’t have played the full match) but it wasn’t,” the Dutchman said.
“We had contact with him and he felt okay so we kept him on the pitch, because in the last part of the game we put him more in the box.
“He came through the game in a good way and hopefully he pulls up in a good way.”
