Tony Popovic says despite Perth Glory’s uncharacteristically poor defensive display against Melbourne Victory, he was encouraged by his side’s ability to grind out a result in the 2-2 draw.
Perth were chasing an equal best Hyundai A-League record of five consecutive clean sheets against Victory but instead had to battle back from behind twice in the contest at HBF Park on Saturday night to snatch a point at the death.
The result ensured Glory extended their unbeaten streak to eight games, but Popovic says there’s a lot for his side to improve on after they let their defensive standards slip against Victory.
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“As a whole, it wasn’t great,” Popovic said post-game.
“Defensively we were poor I felt, that’s something we’ve been really good as a team on this great run we’ve been on, and [Saturday] was not a good day defensively for us.
“When that happens and you’ve got a team that’s dangerous, [who] have some very good footballers in the front third, in transition you can get caught. We got caught twice in transition.
“We didn’t really deal with the first ball or the second ball well and that’s really been a feature for seven weeks.”
The Premiers had scored 18 goals and conceded just three since embarking on their seven-game unbeaten run leading into their Round 17 clash with Victory and were eyeing yet another rock-solid defensive display to earn them another win.
Three points would have helped Glory overtake Melbourne City into second spot on the table, however they still have a game in hand on Erick Mombaerts’ side who they currently trail by just one point.
Despite his frustrations with his defensive unit it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Popovic after the game. He saw the result as a testament to his team’s resilience as they ground out a point where they could have just as easily come away with nothing.
“It was just a poor defensive display,” he said.
“But we found a way. Bruno [Fornaroli] scored a fantastic goal, and it wasn’t that we didn’t get in the right areas to create chances to score or the final ball was missing, it was more that whenever they attacked we didn’t have our usual aggression.
“It’s something that can happen to footballers, but you’ve got to give them credit.
“When they’re that far off as a unit defensively and still get a result, I’m really pleased for them.
“For the players to show the character and resilience to still get a point is a credit to the players, they deserve a lot of credit for getting that point in the end.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128870073001
Recently appointed Victory boss Carlos Salvachua says he was happy with his side’s performance despite conceding the late equaliser.
His message since his appointment in mid-January was for his team to play as ‘protagonists’ – on the front foot and dictating games – and their attacking display against Perth exemplified that.
Victory’s offensive performance was made all the more impressive by the absence of Robbie Kruse, who Salvachua says missed the game due to a minor hamstring injury.
“He finished the game the other day, he did [a lot] of hard work,” Salvachua said.
“Yesterday before training he had a small hamstring [injury], and we preferred to keep him at home.
“He will train with us during the week.”
Salvachua went on to suggest Kruse will be ready to face Melbourne City in a blockbuster Melbourne Derby on Friday night.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128879794001
Round 18
Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory
Friday, 7 February
AAMI Park
Kick off: 7.30pm AEDT
Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, 7 February
HBF Park
Kick off: 9.45pm AEDT