Brisbane Roar coach Warren Moon has put his team’s inconsistency down to getting smashed in the key moments of A-League Men matches.
The Queensland club have yet to win back-to-back matches this season and Thursday’s 2-1 away loss to Newcastle dropped them one spot to 10th.
The Roar looked to be taking control of the game after starting the second half on top and equalising.
However, a fierce Angus Thurgate shot delivered a much needed win to Newcastle, who climbed three places from last to ninth, leapfrogging Brisbane.
Moon lamented the manner in which his team conceded both goals.
The first came after a shot crashed off a post and the ball rebounded into the net off the back of the left hand of Roar goalkeeper Macklin Freke.
While Moon acknowledged the quality of Thurgate’s decisive strike, he was disappointed his side hadn’t taken opportunities to clear the ball from the set-piece which immediately preceded the goal.
It continued a demoralising pattern for Brisbane, who have lost five of their nine games.
“I think maybe apart from one game, we’ve played some good football and been in every game, but where we’re getting smashed right now is in the key moments of matches,” Moon said.
“We were on top at 1-1 in that game and really should have gone on to win but find a way to lose it.
“We’ll be bitterly disappointed as a group about how we defended that set-piece and then had two or three chances to clear it, but failed to do so and then it’s difficult for us in the last 20.
“That’s been the story of our season in many parts of the matches, so until we can improve that we’re going struggle to find this consistency.
“We think we are a good side, but right now we’re not showing it over 90 minutes.”
Although his team finished on the right end of the scoreline, Jets’ coach Arthur Papas was also impressed by Brisbane
“In fairness, I think that’s probably the most complete team we’ve played against performance-wise,” Papas said.
“They really challenged us, their movement was good, they were stable in what they were doing, they made good forward runs.
“They are physically very good, it’s a young team so I take my hats off to them.”
