Perth coach Dave Mitchell has put his entire team on notice, saying poor defensive pressure on every line has led to the club conceding nine goals in the first three matches of the new Hyundai A-League season.
After a 1-0 loss to Adelaide in the first round, the club has shipped eight goals in a 3-3 draw to Newcastle and a 5-2 loss to Sydney, leaving it seventh on the table with just one point going into this weekend’s home clash with Queensland.
But, while conceding goalkeeper Frank Juric hadn’t been at his best in those three matches, Mitchell said he alone wasn’t responsible for all the goals scored.
“It’s not just one man,” said Mitchell on Tuesday. “He hasn’t let nine goals in himself.”
“I don’t think our defenders have been defending well enough, haven’t been putting their body on the line (and) midfielders have been watching runners go through.”
“It’s a team effort. We defend from the front and score goals from the back so it’s a concerted effort, we’re in this together, we’re a team and so collectively it’s not been good enough and some individuals in the defence haven’t been playing well enough.”
“I don’t think Nikolai’s (Topor-Stanley) been playing as well as he can, I don’t think David Tarka’s been playing as well as he can. I don’t think Jamie Coyne’s been playing as well as he can.”
“So we’ll sort that out for sure.”
The Glory have brought in state league defender Jeff Bright from Mandurah as an injury replacement for former Socceroos’ defender Hayden Foxe, who will miss at least the next two rounds with an ongoing foot injury.
To make matters worse for Perth’s defence, James Downey has also been ruled out with a calf injury while Dino Djulbic has been suspended following a red card in the club’s clash with Sydney last round, although Jamie Harnwell (hip) is expected to return.
Despite his defensive concerns, Mitchell said he was still aiming to take all three points from this weekend’s home clash with the Roar.
“It’s important we get back on the mark this week,” Mitchell said.
“Queensland are equally in the situation where they haven’t done as well as they’d like (so) we’re in for a cracking game and hopefully we get over the line with the support behind us.”
