Queensland Roar coach Frank Farina has maintained that there is no real cause for concern following his side’s last-gasp 1-0 loss to the Newcastle Jets at Suncorp Stadium.
The Roar have now claimed just one point from their three home fixtures, but can count themselves a little unlucky after the Jets ‘literally stole all three’ points on Friday night, according to Farina.
“They had one shot on goal, Liam (Reddy) saved it and then they scored from a scrappy corner, that’s why football can be a cruel game, unfortunately it’s happened to us here tonight,” Farina said.
“I know if I was in Gary’s (Jets coach Gary van Egmond) position I’d be thinking jeez, I got away with that.”
“It happens in football, it’s just a pity it (the goal) was so late and we didn’t have a lot of time to get back.”
Queensland had the majority of possession before Joel Griffith’s 83rd minute goal, but failed to make the most of a number of chances.
However Farina was not worried by his team’s inability to find the back of the net.
“We did enough to win the game but didn’t finish the opportunities that we got, but the manner in which we created those chances I thought was very good,” he said.
“You’re seeing games where you’re playing good football and creating chances, not taking them, but still playing some good stuff.”
“(I am) disappointed but you move on, you can’t dwell on it, we’ve got Melbourne and Sydney coming up and that will be the end of round one, we’re still in touch.”
The Roar are indeed currently just outside the top four by one point, but they now face two difficult away trips to Telstra Dome and the Sydney Football Stadium.
Adding to the challenge of taking on some of the form teams of the competition is a possible injury to in form playmaker Charlie Miller, who was brought off at the 88th minute.
Farina was unsure of the severity of Miller’s problem.
“Don’t know what he’s done, something to his quad or his groin, whether that’s just fatigue or not we’ll wait and see, he seems to be thinking it’s not too bad at the moment.”
Miller was yet again a shining light for the Roar.
Although failing in his bid for a fifth goal in five A-League matches, the Scotsman was at his creative best, feeding the Roar’s strikers, while keeping Jets keeper Ante Covic busy himself.
“He could have had goals number five, six and seven, he said himself that he had seven shots tonight but still couldn’t put it past (Covic),” Farina said.
“He’s done ever so well tonight, but unfortunately couldn’t find the back of the net.”
“Other nights they’re going to go in, Charlie would most probably end up with a brace or a hat-trick in a situation like that, if you gave him those same chances again.”
