Perth Glory defender Naum Sekulovski feels the last-placed Hyundai A-League club is still a chance for the finals if it can keep its side together on the park.
Speaking before training on Wednesday, Sekulovski said he felt sorry for coach Dave Mitchell over the first few rounds of the season as the Glory side suffered a shocking run with injuries and suspensions, subsequently winning just one match from the first seven.
But, with experienced campaigners like former Socceroo Hayden Foxe and Brazilian playmaker Amaral back from injury, the side produced a confidence-lifting victory over Sydney FC at home before being controversially beaten 2-1 in Adelaide last weekend.
The Glory return to Members Equity this weekend to face the Wellington Phoenix, who they beat at the same venue in Round 4.
And, with four of the next five matches at their home venue, Sekulovski believes there’s still hope of a maiden finals’ berth, despite the Glory being six points adrift of fourth.
“You only have to look at the table and do the math,” said Sekulovski. “There’s a few games in there, so we get on a roll and we’re right in the mix.”
“I think Mitch’s (Mitchell) found it hard. I think there’s been a handful of players, maybe four or five, that have played since round one.”
“It’s a difficult job when you’re changing five or six players week in week out.”
“(But) if you can try and keep close to the same team out there, week in week out, it’s going to go a long way to getting results.”
Against the Reds, the Glory went a goal up through Nikita Rukavytsya in the 55th minute only to be overhauled by two Adelaide goals in three minutes, from Alemao and Travis Dodd.
Dodd’s 82nd minute penalty has been the cause of some controversy as it appeared he was tackled outside the box, but despite this Sekulovski feels the ultimate reason Perth didn’t claim the points was that the players went into their shells after going ahead.
“I think when we scored our goal, we didn’t keep the ball really well and we just fell back into our 18 yard box,” Sekulovski said.
“So we’ll just try and focus on really keeping possession even when we do go up and although it was difficult away from home, it’s something we’ve got to do a little bit better.”
