Most sides consider playing against 10 men to be an advantage, but Perth Glory interim coach Kenny Lowe concedes it may have worked against his team.
Most sides consider playing against 10 men to be an advantage, but Perth Glory interim coach Kenny Lowe concedes it may have worked against his team.
Brisbane Roar striker Besart Berisha was sent off after just 30 minutes of Friday night’s game at nib Stadium, but Perth was unable to capitalise on having an extra man on the pitch and had to settle for a scoreless draw.
“We had a game plan and at 11 v 11 everyone was executing all their roles and their responsibilities and their jobs, but then it went to 10 and it just threw a little spanner in the works,” Lowe said.
“They tweaked their system a little bit and we didn’t quite know where to go or what to do and at the end of the day you’ve got to give fair play to them.
“That’s two weeks in a row they’ve played with 10. I think Mike (Mulvey) will have a bit of fun next week and play with nine. They’re a super team with some super players.”
It will go down as a missed chance by fifth-placed Glory to cement their spot inside the top six, but Lowe admitted his side had been outclassed by the league leaders.
However, he was very content to walk away with a point.
Lowe can also take heart from the successful – and long overdue – return of former French international William Gallas from a seven-game stint on the sidelines with a torn calf.
Gallas, 36, was a surprise starter for Perth despite his long injury absence and impressed during his first-half appearance.
“I think his biggest problem was whether his cigar went out (because) he was quality,” Lowe said.
“I was coming in a half-time and asking, ‘can we get 90 (minutes) out of him?’, but we’ve got a duty of care and I think he was a bit apprehensive in his own mind going into the game as well.
“The wonderful thing is he did ever so well, he’s played 45 (minutes) and mentally he’ll be in a good space with the fact he’s not just got through it, but got through it with absolute quality.
“Maybe if he was on in the second half giving instructions, pulling people and using his experience, then maybe we would have done a little bit better.”
Another positive for Glory was a fourth clean sheet in five games since Lowe took over from Alistair Edwards last month.
“It’s not something we focus on, but it’s just happening and let’s be honest – in every game we’ve had a bit of luck,” Lowe said.