Sydney FC midfielder Stuart Musialik said it’s merely small concentrations lapses – and not a weakness in the team’s defence – which is behind the club’s winless start to the Hyundai A-League season.
The Sky Blues find themselves in the unfamiliar position of propping up the competition table alongside both the Melbourne clubs, Brisbane and Wellington with just one point from their opening two matches.
While the Sky Blues have had no trouble scoring goals with four in two games despite a shortage of striking options, it’s at the other end where the problem lies.
Sydney, who had the best defence in the league on the way to winning the championship last season conceding, just 23 goals in 27 matches, have already leaked five goals in just two games this campaign.
Central defenders Hayden Foxe and Stephan Keller have copped most of the criticism with a perception the experienced pair simply aren’t mobile enough for the pace and rigours of the competition.
But Musialik believes it’s simply been a drop off in intensity at crucial times that has led to the side’s defensive woes.
“At the moment we’re just getting punished for every little mistake we make,” Musialik said on Thursday.
“It’s a phase we’re going through…we’re making little mistakes that we simply can’t afford to make.”
“It’s definitely something we have to focus on and rectify for the Brisbane game.”
“In general we’re fairly solid but here and there we’re lapsing in concentration and making a few simple errors and getting punished for them.”
“As a team we have to work harder together and make sure we all support each other.”
Starting with Saturday night’s tricky trip to Brisbane to take on the rejuvenated Roar.
Ange’s Postecoglou’s side were unlucky not to win their only game this season – an opening round 0-0 draw with Gold Coast – and will be eager to give their home fans a winning start.
Sydney’s hopes haven’t been helped with key striker Alex Brosque being ruled out with an ankle injury for the trip north.
Brosque joins fellow attacker Mark Bridge on the sidelines leaving Sydney without a recognised striker for the vital round three clash.
But coach Vitezslav Lavicka said there was no need to panic just yet.
“We will stay positive….we’ve had a slow start for the season and we expected better results and better performances but football is sometimes like this,” he said.
“We’ve spoken about where we need to improve.”
“I still believe we are able to play good football and get a good result in Brisbane.”
Asked his thoughts on the Roar, Musialik said: “We don’t know too much about them because they had the week off but we know they are a very hard working, mobile side.”
“They’ve got a lot of new players in from last season.”
“In their game against the Gold Coast they played well and dominated possession. We’re definitely expecting a hard game.”
