Josep Gombau denies Nigel Boogaard has a discipline problem, despite the defender copping a record fifth career A-League red card in the Reds’ 2-1 loss to Jets.
Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau denies wayward central defender Nigel Boogaard has a discipline problem, despite the central defender copping a record fifth career A-League red card in the Reds’ 2-1 loss to Newcastle at Coopers Stadium on Saturday.
Boogaard was given his marching orders with the Reds charging towards the finish line on the cusp of the 90-minute mark for his crude challenge on Jets superstar Emile Heskey.
With his latest indiscretion, Boogaard, a key stopper in Adelaide’s defensive make-up, equalled current Melbourne Victory coach and former captain Kevin Muscat for most red cards in the A-League.
Boogaard’s untimely exit – his second red this season – severely curtailed the 10-man Reds’ bid to conjure a last-ditch equaliser, but he has retained the support of his coach.
“No,” Gombau replied when asked if the former Central Coast Mariner needs to change his errant ways.
“He’s red carded again and he cannot play next week.
“I didn’t see the action well but from what the players said, he dived for the ball.”
Gombau was less forgiving of the group as a whole, who he said failed to follow his desired template.
The home side struggled to string together chains of passes and were too often left exposed in their back third due to sloppy turnovers.
The Reds went flat-out attack at the death but it wasn’t enough.
“We didn’t play the football that we are training (for),” Gombau said.
“It is a problem.
“We tried in the second half to improve this but they (Newcastle) scored early [through Socceroo Adam Taggart] because we made a mistake.
“After that, I took off two defenders and we played 3-4-3 and we tried to make it more attacking.
“I’m unhappy with the result, unhappy because we lost at home, unhappy with the way that we played.”
Despite plummeting to eighth on the ladder, Gombau remains convinced the tiki-taka Spanish style he is attempting to implement is the right course of action.
“We are starting – it is not easy,” Gombau said.
“I want to play this way.
“The club believes in this and we are changing in one direction.
“I feel like my team is playing (a desired style) like no other team is playing.”
