Frank Farina has challenged his side to bring the same fight and attitude to every match after the Sky Blues got their season off life support with an upset 1-0 win over Central Coast.
Sydney FC coach Frank Farina has challenged his side to bring the same fight and attitude to every match after the Sky Blues got their season off life support with an upset 1-0 win over Central Coast on Thursday night.
The last-placed Sky Blues made a mockery of the form guide, producing a spirited team effort to register just their fourth win of the season and exact revenge on the Mariners for the 7-2 thrashing earlier this season.
It was one of the club’s gutsiest victories and came after Brett Emerton’s towering 89th-minute header.
Farina was proud and relieved after overseeing the win but now wants to see more of the same from his side.
“It was pleasing to get the result but more so the work ethic and the fighting out there,” the Sky Blues coach said.
“It’s what we’ve been asking for but we’ve got to be more consistent with it.
“We can’t just do it one week then have two weeks off and do it again.
“We have to (maintain it). They’re professional footballers and I expect that, especially at this stage of the season.
“That’s what I expect and that’s what I want. We’re going to put people in that will do it but everyone out there did that.”
The win snaps a two-game losing streak for Sydney and moves the club off the bottom of the A-League ladder for the first time in six weeks.
Asked if the result could be a turning point for the club’s season, Farina said: “I hate that word turning point.
“It’s three points so it’s a start. But someone asked me that after Wellington and I’m sure if we win another game they’ll say ‘was that the turning point?’
“We’ve just got to be consistent with it. You can’t just do it one week and think ‘we’re good’ and start patting ourselves on the back and next week it’s back to the same.
“We’ve got two tough away games now and as long as we go in with the same attitude and work ethic as we showed (against the Mariners) I’ll be happy.”
Emerton, who epitomised Sydney’s determination with a tireless performance before popping up with the winner, said the club’s humiliating defeat earlier this season was a huge motivator for his side.
But like his coach, Emerton said the Sky Blues can’t just be content with picking up one big scalp, with tough road trips to Adelaide and Perth to come over the next nine days.
“Hopefully it can really kick-start our season. It’s our first win at home and we need to build on that,” the Socceroos midfielder said.
“We need to find that consistency. We’ve proved we can do it so there’s no reason why we can’t do it week in, week out.
“We’re a close group of boys and I think we showed great character, we stuck together and everyone wanted to do it for each other and for the fans as well.
“But we won’t dwell on it. We look forward to the next match and we need to go to Adelaide and do it again.”
With their next match just three days away, Farina will be hopeful injured quartet Pascal Bosschaart, Jason Culina, Terry McFlynn and Fabio will recover in time to be available for selection.