Milicic backs Bulls to keep top six spot

Macarthur FC coach Ante Milicic insists the injury-hit Bulls have the depth to hold on to an A League Men top six placing, as they prepare for two tough matches next week after an unconvincing performance.

The Bulls were far from their best in a hard earned 2-1 home win on Friday over a Brisbane team which enjoyed big advantages in shots, possession and corners.

A classy 43rd minute goal from Ulises Davila and a late Jake McGing winner were enough to earn maximum points after Scott Neville scored an equaliser.

Milicic conceded the Bulls were below their best but praised his team for finding a way to win and refusing to lose despite being outplayed.

The invaluable victory lifted Macarthur into sixth place, one point above local rival Sydney FC, who are in Vietnam on ACL duty.

They face two tough matches over the next week against Western United in Tasmania on Tuesday and at home to Melbourne Victory three days later, with those clubs entering the weekend, second and third respectively.

Milicic is waiting to see if forwards Craig Noone and Moudi Najjar, both of who missed Friday’s game, will be available for those testing fixtures.

“We’ve got a tough week with Western United away and Victory back at home, so we’ve got three games in seven days,” Milicic said.

“But there’s enough quality in that squad to finish off the season in the correct manner and if we’re good enough we get there (to the finals) in the end.

“Moudi Najjar is going to have to get a scan, he didn’t pull up well. He had a fitness test this morning but didn’t come through and Nooney is one we’re going have to look at early in the week, so we’ll see how they go. 

“Daniel De Silva is making decent progress, we saw again today Tomi Juric come on, so we’ve got a couple of bodies coming back.

“But Tommy Oar is still a way (off), so it’s been a difficult period for us in terms of personnel.

“But hopefully we can get a bit more match minutes into a couple of those that have missed so much this season.

“As every team will tell you that depth is most important, particularly now.” 

Brisbane dropped a spot to 11th and coach Warren Moon suggested they needed to recruit players capable of providing the cutting edge they presently lack.

The Roar netted just two goals across a run of three straight away games, in which they drew with Western Sydney and Melbourne Victory before losing to Macarthur.

 “We’ve played well In all three matches and we’ve only got the two points from a possible nine,” Moon said.

“We’re competitive, we’re creating chances and we’re just lacking in the area that matters most.”