Western United head coach Mark Rudan believes his side’s never-say-die attitude shone through against Western Sydney Wanderers after they once again fell behind.
The Green and Black have conceded the opening goal in eight of their last nine matches and, in that time, Rudan’s side have collected 15 points to stay third in the Hyundai A-League ladder.
Patrick Ziegler struck his first Wanderers goal on 79 minutes as the Red and Black aimed to end a six-match winless run, but their hopes were dampened by Aaron Calver’s maiden goal for United on 87 minutes.
The Victorian outfit’s comebacks are symbolic of the team’s character, according to Rudan, and the competition’s newest club showed that once again in the 1-1 draw at Bankwest Stadium despite Wanderers raining in 19 shots to United’s four.
“We’ve won more points than anyone else in the league from a losing start, or from giving away a goal, so that tells you a lot about this team” said Rudan.
“It tells you a lot about our identity as well. It can always go either way in those moments.
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“We could have easily taken the lead after the first minute, that was the moment that we work on, particularly away from home.
“We try to kill teams off then start to play our own matches, it didn’t quite happen.
“Everyone probably thought we were done and dusted when we conceded but, like I said, great resilience, great character, once again.”
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Western Sydney head coach Markus Babbel believes Wanderers took a step forward in securing a draw but conceded that ‘a mistake cost us’ in allowing Calver’s late equaliser.
The Red and Black have only scored two goals in their past four Hyundai A-League matches but Babbel praised his team’s creativity against United’s defence.
“The chances are there, we have to take them,” Babbel said.
“At the moment, we are not ready for the moment.
“It’s not easy to create many chances against a team who are playing with 11 players 30 metres in front of the goal.
“To find the space is not easy but we had four, five really good chances but we couldn’t score.
“We have players that can score but we have to work on it. Don’t stop believing.”
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Shot map: Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Western United
Babbel believes persistence is the solution to Wanderers’ goal-shy ways and, so long as they keep making chances, the goals will begin to flow.
“It’s definitely not a tactical problem,” he added.
“In the beginning, we were nearly 100% taking our goal chances. It was unbelievable.
“Every opportunity that was there we scored and now it is different. This is football.
“You have times and periods that every shot at goal [goes in] and then you have periods where you need many, many shots at goal.
“We have to keep going on it, working on the technique, get the boys in the right position, and it will come.”
Round 12
Western United v Wellington Phoenix
Date: Saturday, 28 December
Venue: Mars Stadium
Kick-off: 4:00pm AEDT
Match Centre
Click here to buy tickets
