Western United boss John Aloisi says his side’s stout early-season defence will give them a platform to build on after a third straight A-League Men win and clean sheet to defeat Brisbane Roar 1-0 at GMHBA Stadium.
Though there were squandered chances for more, Connor Pain’s 50th minute volleyed effort proved enough for United to take a win that, at least temporarily, sends them top of the ALM table.
Across their opening four games, Aloisi’s side has conceded just a single goal and that lone blemish came from a set-piece.
The win was also delivered without the service of Swiss defender Leo Lacroix, who is expected to be fit for his side’s game against Adelaide next week.
“We dropped off a little bit and gave the ball away a little bit cheaply where we could have kept on shifting and then it just gives them that little bit of hope,” Aloisi said.
“Again, it’s a clean sheet, they didn’t really look like scoring, they didn’t really create any chances and it should have been a more comfortable win.
“(The defensive strength) give us a platform to allow us to compete.”
But while United is establishing a defensive bedrock, the Roar remain toothless and rooted to the bottom of the ALM table with just a single point and goal to their names after their opening month.
Though seeing their fair share of the ball, the visitors struggled to fashion chances that would raise the pulse of their former custodian Jamie Young in the United goal, creating just a single shot on target.
A further blow came when fullback Corey Brown rolled his ankle in the 46th minute with Pain netting three minutes later.
Brown’s status for the Roar’s next game against Perth will be monitored.
“It’s not great, we’ve now lost three games out of four,” said coach Warren Moon.
“But if we start to panic now and change things drastically that’s not going to help anyone. We need to stay calm, we’ve got to find our first win.
“To start the way we did in the second half to concede a goal was really disappointing. And then at that point, you’re looking for more from our boys.
“We had good passages of play but no cutting edge, no one wanted to take a strike on goal.
“No one wanted to run one v one with their fullback and get in behind.
“That’s where we need to improve.”
