Perth Glory defender Bas van den Brink says the team’s defence has come together as a group and vowed to cut out the late goals that have blighted their season so far.
Perth Glory defender Bas van den Brink says the team’s defence has come together as a group and vowed to cut out the late goals that have blighted their season so far.
The Glory have conceded four goals in the last five minutes before halftime across the whole season and two goals in two separate matches during the final five minutes before fulltime, with those goals costing the sides a result in four games.
Last weekend, the Glory had dominated the second half against Melbourne Heart at home, but an 87th-minute winner from Mate Dugandzic completed a 2-1 win for the Victorian side, consigning the Glory to eighth on the Hyundai A-League table.
And, having seen the club’s owner Tony Sage and coach Ian Ferguson cop plenty of criticism following the result, towering Dutchman van den Brink has declared enough is enough for his back four ahead of their big clash with Central Coast.
“We spoke about it yesterday us defenders,” declared van den Brink, ahead of taking the captain’s arm-band in suspended skipper Jacob Burns’ absence.
“We can’t concede goals just before the whistle blows, so we have to stay focused the whole 45 and 90 minutes.
“It’s very important. I think it’s five or so goals in total we’ve conceded just before the ref blows for half-time or the end, and five goals is a lot. We have to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
Van den Brink said the players were keen to make things up to the club’s owner and coach after last weekend, especially as the abuse from the crowd was enough for Sage to later say he was handing the club’s licence back to Football Federation Australia at the end of the season.
Sage has since stepped back from those comments somewhat, with van den Brink adamant the week of drama hasn’t affected the player’s preparation.
“I can imagine they’re frustrated,” said van den Brink. “That’s part of football I guess.”
“They cheer for us a lot of the time so I think they’re allowed to show their anger a bit, I’m not worried about it. I would be worried if they were still clapping when we lose.”
“(But) it’s not good for them (Sage and Ferguson) to cop it all the time.”
