Wanderers striker Mark Bridge was unconcerned by his side’s finishing ability after Western Sydney edged Newcastle at Hunter Stadium on Sunday.
A first-half strike from Jaushua Sotirio settled the contest but the Red and Black were guilty of spurning a glut of chances as they tried to secure the three points.
They were nearly made to pay for their profligacy with Jets skipper Nigel Boogaard heading into the woodwork late on, while Jets keeper Mark Birighitti almost nicked a point from a corner at the death.
“Sometimes you need to grind out results, especially away from home against a team like this,” Bridge told Fox Sports post-match.
Wanderers edge brave Jets in Newcastle
“They’re a very solid side, they’ve been playing well the last few weeks and they gave us a good test today.
“We were lucky at the end not to concede from a set-piece.”
The result saw the Wanderers complete a season sweep over the Jets but Bridge acknowledged his side’s shooting accuracy had cost them this season.
“I think our chances were dropping we just didn’t take them especially in the first-half and that’s been a bit of our problem this year.
“We haven’t closed out teams when we’ve been dominating early on.
“They stayed in the game and it almost cost us at the end.”
The three points sees the Wanderers re-join the Roar at the top of the table, with the sides separated by just one strike on goal difference.
With four rounds remaining just one win separates the top four and Bridge expects a grand stand finish to the season.
“It’s great for the neutral fan the competition’s so close. It’s going to make finals time very interesting,” Bridge said.
“Anyone can win it really, especially from that top four.
“It’s exciting. There’s still four games to go so it’s going to be a great race to the finish.”
