Warren Joyce admits Melbourne City must become more ruthless after they courted danger during the 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar in Friday night’s Elimination Final.
Stefan Mauk and Nick Fitzgerald scored second-half goals to cap off a dominant performance and book a Semi Final date with Newcastle Jets next weekend.
The hosts racked up 21 shots in total at AAMI Park, with nine on target to Roar’s zero.
READ: Melbourne City muscle past Brisbane Roar to secure Semi Final spot
But having left the contest alive until stoppage time, Joyce feels his team is not yet the finished article.
“I thought we totally dominated the game. It was frustrating at half-time that we didn’t make better use of the opportunities,” the City boss told Fox Sports.
“There was just a little spell midway through the second half where I thought we’ve got to be more ruthless against sides.
“That’s been the case at different stages of the season.
“It’s a reasonably young side and not as experienced as some of the teams we come up against.
“That’s the thing we’ve got to learn and be better at as the years progress here, because there’s a lot of talent.
“It’s just managing key moments in games where you don’t let sides back in or give them a cheap goal.”
Now just one win away from a maiden Grand Final appearance, City will hope to welcome back defender Michael Jakobsen after he was sidelined through injury on Friday night.
Luke Brattan did manage to get through 90 minutes despite pulling up sore on two occasions in the first half, with Joyce confident the midfielder will be fit to face the Jets.
“Brattsy’s just soft,” he joked. “For a Hull lad, really, he shouldn’t be like that.
“[There are] a couple of little knocks and niggles.
“Obviously Jakobsen trained all week and then missed out. I thought [Osama] Malik was outstanding coming in at short notice.”
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