Sydney FC boss Steve Corica acknowledged his side weren’t at their best but remains pleased to extend their unbeaten run with victory over a ten-man Brisbane Roar on Friday night.
The Sky Blues’s usually fluid attack failed to unlock the Roar from open play in hot conditions at Nestrata Jubilee Stadium in the 1-0 win – taking the three points courtesy of a second half penalty from Adam Le Fondre following a Scott Neville handball, that resulted in the Roar defender’s dismissal in the 55th minute.
The win furthers the Hyundai A-League leaders’ run of form to 12 matches without defeat and moved the Champions 13 points clear atop the league table.
Speaking post-match, Corica suggested his side were good value for the three points, but conceded they were stifled by the Roar’s dogged defensive display as the visitors sought to turnaround a 5-1 defeat in their previous trip to the venue in early December.
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
“Obviously, considering what happened last time, they made it difficult for us to break them down – especially first half – we had a lot of ball but not a lot of final third entries and shots and that,” Corica said.
“We wanted to do a little bit better in the second half and we did until they had the man sent off and I felt after that we were a little bit sluggish and we looked a little bit slow.
“We wanted more pressure on the ball which we didn’t get, so 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.”
He added: “They dropped deep and made it difficult for us to get in behind them. Full credit to them – I think they defended well. They didn’t have a lot of shots until maybe late in that second half when we got a little bit sloppy.”
ROUND 17: How to watch Hyundai A-League Round 17
SATURDAY PREVIEW: Newcastle Jets v Western United
The Sky Blues’s seven shots on target in the game was more than double their opponents, and Corica acknowledged the performance of Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young as he kept his side in the contest with a number of second half stops.
“I think Jamie Young had another good game against us. He made a couple of great saves and maybe we could’ve got two or three tonight.”
However, Corica said he wasn’t reading too much into the lack of goals from open play against the Roar’s defensive set-up and saw no need for concern as his side near the business end of the campaign.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128564822001
“We’ve played against it before but I think it was just was one of them days tonight – the ball speed wasn’t quick enough, there wasn’t enough runs in behind.
“We’ve done it before and we will talk about it next week and we will show video and make sure we work out ways to break teams down if they are going to do that.”
He also refused to be drawn into details on the handball decision Neville that ultimately settled the scoreline.
“You can look at it a million times. I think everyone has got a different opinion on handball these days. I am very pleased that it was a handball because that was the only way we could break them down tonight,” Corica said.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6128580883001
By contrast, Roar head coach Robbie Fowler said he believed the handball decision and resulting send-off had marred an otherwise strong performance from his side against the Hyundai A-League’s top side.
“I think it’s harsh. What is he – two yards away, three yards away – and the ball has hit him,” Fowler said.
“He’s not raised his hand, he’s not put his hand towards it. The ball is travelling, not at a hundred mile an hour, but it is coming at him with a little bit of pace.
“I don’t think we are saying it hasn’t hit his hand or hasn’t hit is arm. I just think it is a little bit harsh.”
He added: “Well it changed the game because we’ve had a man sent off and they scored a penalty.
“Up to that we were probably as good a performance as we’ve had this year in terms of with the ball, without the ball, the players were disciplined and every player knew what role they were playing tonight.”
The result marks the first time Sydney FC have posted three consecutive wins over the Roar in the Hyundai A-League.
Round 18
Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers
Saturday, 8 February
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Kick off: 5.00pm AEDT
Brisbane Roar v Adelaide United
Saturday, 8 February
Suncorp Stadium
Kick off: 7.30pm AEDT