Brisbane Roar have cycled through defensive partnerships like underwear this season but the presence of Jacob Pepper continues to be indispensable.
Injury disaster forced Pepper to adopt a makeshift centre half role during his second campaign with the Roar, and the 26-year-old has again been thrown in at the defensive deep end this season amid Brisbane’s ongoing injury crisis.
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For Friday night’s date with Wellington Phoenix, the Newcastle Jets youth found himself one quarter of yet another unconventional rear-guard barricade, allied alongside the 1.71 metre frame of veteran midfielder Matt McKay and flanked by Daniel Leck and Izaack Powell, a fullback partnership with barely 20 Hyundai A-League appearances between them.
It was an improvised back four that appeared ripe for the picking for a Wellington Phoenix side capable of blasting any team asunder on their day.
But led by the rough-and-ready, unassuming approach of their unsung defensive marshal, Brisbane held out a Phoenix team which had scored 16 goals in their previous four matches, earning a priceless 2-1 win.
“It’s crazy,” Pepper told FOX Sports after the game of Brisbane’s constantly-shifting defence.
“I actually spoke to Matty before the game. He’s my 10th centre back partner in two seasons.”
“It’s a makeshift back-line but I can’t fault anyone.”
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