“The whole couple of weeks we just talked about mindset and attitude,” interim Western Sydney Wanderers coach Jean-Paul de Marigny said after his side returned to winning ways on Sunday.
The Wanderers put paid to their three match losing run in de Marigny’s first game in charge with a strong 3-1 away win over Central Coast Mariners – moving to four points shy of sixth position on the table.
There was enough there to suggest that far from being a spent force looking to next season, the Wanderers remain well in the hunt to push for the Hyundai A-League top six after a much-needed two-week break from competitive action.
Irishman Simon Cox demonstrated he could provide the spark up front with an exceptional display off the bench in his Hyundai A-League debut – winning the penalty for his side’s second goal before wrapping up the result by scoring the third – and now looms as the partner Mitchell Duke has been crying out for in the attacking third.
ROUND 17: Hyundai A-League Team of the Week
RECAP: Watch all the McDonald’s Mini Matches from Round 17
Elsewhere, the stats told a story of a team largely in control after wresting over 57% of possession on the Mariners home turf and amassing 478 passes – their most in a single game this calendar year.
In large part that was due to influential showings from German Nicolai Müller, who earned a place in the Round 17 Team of the Week, as well as Keanu Baccus and Daniel Georgievski.
Defensively, there remains work to do but, as demonstrated by their opportunistic first goal on the back of a Mariners turnover, the Wanderers transition play is finding an edge that has previously been lacking.
Of course, it could prove to be the dead cat bounce that often follows many clubs after a change of coach, and there will be plenty of interested observers as they now turn their attention to a blockbuster Sydney Derby clash with Sydney FC in Round 18.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128974509001
However, Cox said he and his teammates will not be content in simply seeing out the season in the bottom five.
“It was enjoyable, it was good to get three points, we want to start making a point to the league where we can do something, we can aim for the top six, and start pushing from now,” he said.
Interestingly, for all their flaws the Wanderers are the only side to have beaten the Champions this season – a 1-0 win in October – an indication that they have the potential to mix it with any team in the competition when they get it right.
REPORT: Wanderers begin new era with a win over gutsy Mariners
REACTION: Wanderers benefiting from mentality shift – de Marigny
A win is a win for Sydney as they extend competition lead
Sydney FC were far from their best in Round 17 – but so were their nearest Premiership rivals – and moving 13 points clear atop the Hyundai A-League standings will be the ultimate take-away from the weekend.
The Sky Blues settled for a 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar on Friday night courtesy of an Adam Le Fondre penalty, but were frustrated in open play as they failed to put the contest to bed despite the Roar reduced to ten men for the bulk of the second half.
Perhaps if it were not for a heroic showing from Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young the Sky Blues would have seen greater reward for their seven shots on target, but it mattered not in the end as Steve Corica’s side were rarely troubled by the Roar attack – recording back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season.
Interestingly, for those that follow the metropolitan rivalry between Sydney and Brisbane, it was also the first time Sky Blues had recorded three straight wins over the Roar in the competition’s history.
“It wasn’t the best of games but I am pleased because it is another three points, it’s a clean sheet and we move further forward,” a pragmatic Corica surmised of his team’s performance.
REPORT: Le Fondre penalty the difference as Sydney see off 10 man Roar
REACTION: ‘Obviously the penalty hurt us.’ – McDonald praises Roar character in defeat
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128564822001
Adelaide hitting their stride as worries mount for City
In the City of Churches, Adelaide United found their third straight win as they put a significant dent in Melbourne City’s hopes of reeling in the league-leaders.
The 3-1 score line highlighted the Reds’ dominance at Coopers Stadium as they continue to find the consistency that has eluded them through much of the summer that coincided with injury lay-offs for the influential James Troisi and Riley McGree.
“Riley is an important player for us. In the four games we lost [two] games he wasn’t there,” Verbeek said when queried about the importance of the duo.
Ben Halloran delivered a double, while George Blackwood was also amongst the spoils for Gertjan Verbeek’s men, who are now just three points shy of second-placed City despite sitting fifth on the Hyundai A-League table.
For City there were plenty of worries in addition to a result that sees them with just a single point from their past two outings – Harrison Delbridge was sent-off for a third time this season, while January defensive recruit Jack Hendry could be set for an extended spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.
SATURDAY REPORT: Halloran double punishes City and lifts Adelaide fifth
SATURDAY REACTION: Konstandopoulos believes Adelaide can ‘go all the way’ this season
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128842836001
Victory back up Champions League win with strong result on the road
All of a sudden things are starting to look a whole lot better for Melbourne Victory after backing up their mid-week AFC Champions League win in Japan with a 2-2 away draw against high-flyers Perth Glory.
Carlos Salvachua’s side halted a three-match losing run in the Hyundai A-League with goals from Ola Toivonen and Andrew Nabbout – and were a good shout for all three points before Nick D’Agostino’s late equaliser for the Glory forced a share of the spoils.
The match marked the return to the Hyundai A-League of Marco Rojas, with the Kiwi international adding spark off the bench for the Victory as they find form ahead of their Round 18 Melbourne Derby clash with City.
However, despite the positives the question remains whether the Glory were simply off their game defensively at HBF Park – head coach Tony Popovic certainly seemed to think so as he pointed to his side’s leading the shot count 14 to 8 on the night.
“For the players to show the character and resilience to still get a point is a credit to the players, they deserve a lot of credit for getting that point in the end,” he said of his side.
SATURDAY REPORT: Late D’Agostino strike salvages Glory a point against Victory
SATURDAY REACTION: Victory signing Rojas eager to make an impact
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128862251001
Same old story as Jets can’t score in bore draw
It could certainly be argued that Newcastle Jets deserved more from their clash with Western United on Saturday – but ultimately football games are about putting the ball in the back of the net.
The Jets crafted 26 shots on goal to the visitor’s four in the 0-0 draw but their inefficiency in front of goal remained the big takeaway for the competition’s bottom-placed side, who have scored just 13 times in their 15 matches this season.
Of course, there are bright spots on the horizon for Craig Deans’ side with January signing Roy O’Donovan and injured marquee attacker Wes Hoolahan both looming as inclusions for the Jets for their upcoming F3 Derby clash with Central Coast Mariners.
Defensively though things are looking up for the Jets as they posted their first clean sheet since November as they effectively nullified a Western United side missing their midfield talisman Alessandro Diamanti.
“Everyone is disappointed. The only big positive from the game was the clean sheet. It’s been a while since we’ve had one of those,” Deans said.
REPORT: Wasteful Jets gift United a point in goalless draw
SIGNING NEWS: O’Donovan returns to Jets
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128830191001
