In a rare admission, Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic said he was disappointed with how his players reacted in the last half hour of Friday night’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Victory at AAMI Park.
Wanderers dominated large parts of the first half but went into the break 1-0 down due to a third minute goal to Oliver Bozanic.
They reacted well, pressed strongly but after they conceded a second to Bozanic on 66 minutes, there was only ever going to be one winner.
Victory edge Wanderers in Good Friday classic
“At 2-0 we went away from the way we play,” said a clearly disappointed Popovic.
“I’ve never said after a game before. After 25 games [this season] it’s the first time I’ve said I haven’t been pleased with the way we played for a certain period of the game.
“I’ll have a look at that and make sure that we don’t play that way again if things don’t go our way.
“Just disappointed we didn’t react very well after the second goal. I didn’t see the same reaction as I saw after the first goal.
“We expected everything we got. I’m just disappointed with how we dealt with that in the last half an hour.”
He added: “In the first half we played the way we wanted to play.
“We conceded an early goal which wasn’t ideal against Victory any time …which maybe gave them a lift but I felt the reaction was excellent.
“The disappointing thing for me is we didn’t go on with it in the second half.”
However it’s not all doom and gloom with Wanderers Premiership rivals also having tricky tests this weekend.
Roar are at home to Sydney FC, City face Phoenix at AAMI Park and the Reds face the Mariners at Coopers.
“We’re in a good position. Would we have liked to have won today? Yes. To make sure we’re still first.
“We have to get over this, get back home, recover and get ready for Central Coast.”
