Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey praised his side’s fortitude after the Roar were reduced to 10 men in a match for a second week in a row.
Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey praised his side’s fortitude after the Roar were reduced to 10 men in a match for a second week in a row.
The Roar settled for a scoreless draw with Glory at nib Stadium on Friday night after star striker Besart Berisha was sent off in the 30th minute following a second crude challenge on Perth defender Michael Thwaite.
But Mulvey’s side can consider themselves unlucky not to have claimed maximum points from the match following a dominant second half.
Mulvey was full of praise for his side, revealing post-match he had urged the league leaders to pursue the win despite Glory having an extra man on the pitch.
“The game is about entertainment first and foremost and we could have come here and tried to keep the ball and not try to go forward, but that’s not me and that’s not the club and it’s certainly not want the players want to do,” Mulvey said.
“We want to, wherever we are, play football and win games and we very nearly got what we deserved tonight.
“I’m very happy with the performance, but I’m actually disappointed we didn’t get the three points and that probably speaks volumes about how we played.”
It was the second time in two matches that the Roar have played out the 90 minutes with only 10 men after defender Diogo Ferriera was sent off last weekend against Adelaide.
Mulvey said his side’s ability to compete against the odds justified the Roar’s position at the top of the A-League table and showed why they were true title contenders.
“Thankfully we’re very fit and we proved that once again tonight, but we don’t want to make a habit of it,” he said.
“It’s not in our own best interests, but I think what we’ve shown tonight is that we’re really capable of mounting a challenge this season.
“The dressing room is pretty pumped at the moment. There is a disappointment in there that we haven’t won the game, but they recognise what we’ve just done without getting carried away by it.”
Mulvey also gave a glowing review of German playmaker Thomas Broich, who battled through a thigh injury to be one of Brisbane’s most influential players.
“You saw what kind of a man Thomas is tonight. He was in pain…and his performance vindicated the optimism that we had that he could play, but also showed the whole of Australia the quality that he possesses,” Mulvey said.
“He’d be the first to admit that there were nine other guys that helped him out there today, but he’s a joy to watch, he’s a treasure and he’s one that deserves to be protected.”