All eyes are on this weekend’s Original Rivalry as Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory renew hostilities on Saturday evening.
Both sides come into this weekend’s blockbuster Isuzu UTE A-League bout desperate a response, having struggled to get points on the board post FIFA Men’s World Cup break.
The Reds were bruised and battered in Round 11, losing 4-0 to a rampant Central Coast Mariners outfit – but, Victory bore the brunt of the criticism in the wake of a home defeat to Brisbane Roar which opened the door for Perth Glory to leapfrog above Victory off the foot of the table in midweek.
Victory approach Round 12 on the foot of the table in the same week Football Australia passed down financial and sporting sanctions on the club after December’s Melbourne Derby pitch invasion.
All the heat is on Victory in the lead-in to Saturday’s Original Rivalry clash – but that’s not how Adelaide goal-keeper Joe Gauci sees it.
“I think it’s probably less focus on kicking them when (they’re) down, and more focused on bringing ourselves back up,” Gauci told Cornthwaite on the Players Pod.
“I think last week was far from our best, and that was reflected in the result, regardless of playing with 10 men or not for the whole second half.
In review, we looked at the goals we conceded and they were all preventable.
“I think yes, it is a great opportunity at home against out biggest rivals to really bounce back, but I think it’s more important to focus on playing our best football, and then the result will kind of take care of itself if we’re playing at our best.”
Adelaide have now lost three of four games on a run of five games which followed the World Cup break; Carl Veart’s side began the season as a side in form but ill-discipline has cost them dearly of late, with three of those five fixtures seeing a Reds player sent off.
Veteran midfielder Isaias has collected two of those red cards, along with experienced forward Ben Halloran. Isaías’ most recent dismissal came against the Mariners, with the Spaniard leaving a boot on either leg of defender Jacob Farrell in a clumsy challenge just one minute into the second half.
Gauci admits his side cannot afford to continue handing their opponents such a clear advantage by reducing themselves to 10 men.
“For us, it’s about controlling ourselves a bit,” Gauci said. “We want to come out and set the tone, and I think on the weekend that was needed (after) going 1-0 down at half-time, in probably not our best half of football.
“You want to come out and set the tone early and set the tempo – and when it goes wrong like it did, then you’re getting highlights for all the wrong reasons.
“I think the coaching staff are disappointed and as players we’ve discussed it and said we need to be better. We can’t be putting ourselves at a disadvantage by getting players sent off, it’s something we’ve addressed and hopefully that’s the last of it for this season.”