A beaming Gold Coast United boss Miron Bleiberg says he was delighted with his side’s return to form in their 3-0 win over Melbourne Heart and believes there is more to come with the expected return of key personnel for Saturday’s match against Wellington Phoenix.
Far from the ‘disillusioned’ coach he was on Wednesday night after his side’s shock 2-1 loss to North Queensland, Bleiberg was happy with the result and further buoyed by his side winning without five first-choice players – Glen Moss, Michael Thwaite, Zenon Caravella, Steve Pantelidis and Joel Porter.
All five should overcome injury to play the Phoenix, who did Gold Coast a big favour by beating second-placed Adelaide United 2-1 in Christchurch on Sunday.
But Bleiberg admitted the 3-0 scoreline did flatter his troops, lavishing praise on the Heart, who could have made something of the game had they made the most of the countless opportunities they spurned throughout the match.
“The result was cruel to the Heart – in the first half they were as good as us if not better. Melbourne Heart play good football, but sometimes you have games where someone from upstairs looks at you and makes sure you score the right goal at the right time and you break the opposition’s spirit,” Bleiberg said.
“In the second half we adjusted a bit, Bruce (Djite) did a brilliant turn for the penalty and once it was 2-0 there was only one team on the field.”
“When a team likes us comes from two losses after we haven’t lost for a while, it’s a bit of a mental shock and I told the players that we must stop losing – even if it means we have to play for a draw, which is no shame.”
“After the first half I was well prepared for if we needed to play for a draw because the way Melbourne Heart played today they deserve to be in the top six, but that’s the only consolation I can give them.”
The result took United into third position on the Hyundai A-League ladder – four points shy of Adelaide and 11 points away from crosstown rivals Brisbane Roar.
But with three games in hand over the league leaders – and with a host of first team players to come back into his starting eleven – Bleiberg is hopeful his team can remain hot on the heels of the top two.
“I think we played relatively good football today but we’re not playing as good as the Roar at the moment – nobody does,” he said.
“But the Roar have not had any major injuries and they have not had the mid-season slump, and with the players we have to come back, almost half the team, I’d like to think Gold Coast United will have a say (at the end of the season).”
