Gold Coast United boss Miron Bleiberg believes his side can take great confidence from making Adelaide United look “second rate” in Wednesday night’s scoreless draw between the two championship aspirants.
It was the second 0-0 draw that the Coast and Adelaide have played out this season but the manner of his side’s performance has Bleiberg optimistic about how much finals football they will play.
Bleiberg also revealed that John Curtis has avoided serious injury after a clash with Paul Reid that saw him stretchered off the field, convincing referee Chris Beath to show the Adelaide midfielder a red card.
“He probably will not be able to play this weekend as a precaution but that’s it. Don’t ask me what I saw because I did not see the incident,” Bleiberg joked.
“It looked to me like a 50/50 but apparently, according to the experts, Reid turned and while he turned he elbowed him. If Reid stayed on the field I wouldn’t complain, let’s put it that way.”
“The game besides this incident was clean and unlike the previous games in which Gold Coast have been intimidated, both teams played fair. Today proved when we’re allowed to play in a fair game we can play good football. I’m quite proud of the boys.”
“The result is a bit disappointing but overall if we play like this until the end, we have a lot to say in the finals. We were in control from the first to the last moment and if Adelaide are one of the best teams in the competition, we made them look second rate.”
“In the end we couldn’t score and that’s our fault but at least we kept a clean sheet against, on paper, one of the best attacking teams in the competition.”
“We still have three games to play and if we have a home advantage, any team that comes here in the finals, we have learned from last year. We had a home final and we didn’t translate it and, with the way the boys are playing, I’m quite confident.”
The draw keeps United in fourth position, tied for points with Melbourne Victory but ahead on goal difference and with two more games left to play than Ernie Merrick’s men.
If the ladder stays the way it is, a mouthwatering elimination final between United and Victory at Skilled Park awaits, made all the more enticing after Bleiberg made headlines last week after criticizing their physical style of play.
“People are afraid to say it but I’m not afraid. It never bothered me and it never will.”
“But I’d prefer to meet Wellington than Victory (in the finals) because they are a good side. They outplayed us last week. If we have to play them in the finals, I’ll put 11 Pantelidis on the field,” Bleiberg said, referring to former Victory hardman Steve Pantelidis, who has turned a corner since coming to Gold Coast United.
“He was my man of the match tonight and it shows you that you can take a serial offender and if you reprimand him, explain to him, talk to him and send him to a psychologist – which we did, it’s not a secret – and we took the best out of him.”
“My neighbours from the south never reprimand their offenders. That’s the difference. Pantelidis today was pure football. He played the way it should be played.”
