Melbourne Victory midfielder Jake Brimmer says frustration is setting in after Saturday afternoon’s 0–0 draw against Brisbane Roar which extended his side’s goalless and winless streak to three games.
The last time Victory went without a goal for three games was from March-April of 2017; Tony Popovic’s side came into Round 4 off the back of consecutive defeats and despite taking a point off the Roar will come away from Moreton Daily Stadium feeling disappointed, after Roar keeper Jordan Holmes’ second-half send-off put the visitors in the box seat to take all three points.
Victory took 29 shots to Brisbane’s nine, but put just two of those 29 on target.
It was a new-look Victory attack in Round 4, with Josh Brillante’s suspension opening the door for Ben Folami to come into the starting XI; both he and Chris Ikonomidis occupied wing positions with Luis Nani floating into attacking midfield behind striker Nick D’Agostino.
Brimmer, who played a deeper role in midfield in Brillante’s absence, almost broke the deadlock late in the piece with a curling shot from range, but failed to hit the target as Victory settled for a point against the 10-men of Roar.
“Yeah it was (tough),” Brimmer told Paramount+ post-match. “Unfortunately we didn’t get the result we wanted. I thought we were the better team the whole game and, yeah, just lacked a goal today.
“I definitely think we had chances when we had the advantage in numbers on the pitch, but I still think in the first half we had some good chances. We didn’t bury them today.
“That’s the most frustrating thing about it – when you play a good game of football and you dominate the game and you don’t come away with three points. We need to start winning games – it needed to start today, but we’ll review the game and hopefully bounce back next week.”
Whilst Victory’s search for momentum-turning goals continues into Round 5, the Roar come away from Saturday afternoon’s draw feeling confident that their own form is building after a third draw from four games to start the season.
Roar marquee Charlie Austin regretted his inability to finish off a pair of gilt-edged chances in the aftermath of the 0-0 draw, but insisted his side were showing all the right signs after four rounds.
“We showed great character in the second half to hold on against a very good side,” Austin told Paramount+.
“Forget the Melbourne City game (a 2-0 defeat). The (other) three games that we’ve drawn, the wins are coming – but we’ve certainly showed progression week in, week out, which is a positive for us.”
Victory take on the Jets on Friday, November 4 to kick off Round 5, whilst Brisbane host Sydney FC on Sunday, November 6.
MATCH REPORT: 10-MAN ROAR EARN DRAW WITH MISFIRING VICTORY
Joel Gould, AAP
A plucky 10-man Brisbane have survived goalkeeper Jordan Holmes being sent off to earn a valuable A-League Men point in a scoreless draw with Melbourne Victory.
Holmes was shown a red card in the 55th minute for contact with the knee on Victory striker Nicholas D’Agostino outside the box on Saturday afternoon at Redcliffe’s Moreton Daily Stadium.
Initially referee Chris Beath let the play go on but after a VAR consultation Holmes was given his marching orders.
Macklin Freke came on as the Roar’s new goalkeeper and midfielder Rahmat Akbari was the unlucky outfield player sacrificed.
Freke did well to then save a shot by Victory’s star signing Nani. The Portuguese legend then headed over the bar before being substituted in the 77th minute.
A man down, the Roar showed plenty of spirit to take the fight to the visitors with English striker Charlie Austin sending one shot over the bar.
The match was played in oppressive 30-plus degree heat and took its toll on the players who had drink breaks during each half.
The match was pulsating and there were chances galore, without the final touch finding the mark.
Roar striker Joe Knowles, one of their best, made a surge down the left in the sixth minute and his deflected shot was cleared off the line.
A minute later Roar skipper Tom Aldred and D’Agostino clashed heads and left the field briefly for concussion tests before returning.
Nani had two shots early in the first half and created plenty, but the Roar held firm.
Austin had some promising touches with one fierce shot saved by Victory goalkeeper Paul Izzo. The former Premier League striker had a better chance provided by Jordan Courtney-Perkins from the left but was unable to get any power into his attempt.
Roar’s Knowles and Riku Danzaki both had shots deflected on the cusp of the break.
The late Masato Kudo was honoured in the ninth minute with one minute of applause by the crowd to signify the No.9 he wore for Brisbane. Kudo, a Japanese international who played 14 games for the Roar in 2020-21, died on October 21 after complications from brain surgery.