Brisbane Roar concentration lapse costly again

Brisbane walked off the lush green Suncorp turf deflated after being narrowly beaten 1-0 by the Newcastle Jets in Saturday night’s Hyundai A-League fixture. It spells a worrying trend for the defending champions who for the fourth consecutive game at home, conceded first and were stuck chasing the game.

Credit: Brisbane Roar

“We copped a silly goal at a crucial time and I think it really sets us back. That’s been the case over the last eight or ten matches,” said Roar captain Matt Smith.

The last time Brisbane were able to score first at Suncorp Stadium was way back on November 26 when they overcame Perth Glory 4-0 to set a record breaking 36-game undefeated streak.

Putting it all down to simple lapses in concentration, coach Ange Postecoglou admitted it was a frustrating area of Brisbane’s game that they were working hard to address.

“Ultimately if we keep chasing games of football it’s going to make it really hard for us to be successful on a consistent basis,” he said.

“You can’t always be pulling games out of the death.”

The Roar attack constantly threatened to stage another comeback with youth player Nick Fitzgerald playing alongside returning injured dangerman Thomas Broich and pint-sized Brazilian, Henrique.

Though there were many chances, without the suspended Albanian striker and renowned game-changer Besart Berisha, Brisbane just couldn’t find the goals they needed.

“He’s the top goalscorer in the league, he would have been handy to have out there,” conceded Postecoglou.

Credit: Melanie Dinjaski

“But at the end of the day we had enough of the ball and enough time to fashion a couple of chances. We probably weren’t as decisive in that front third as we could have been.”

Newcastle came to Brisbane sitting second last on the Hyundai A-League ladder with a dismal away record that has seen them winless on the road since Round 22 last season.

But the 9,293 in attendance wouldn’t have known it.

From the get-go the Jets were hungry on the counter, disciplined with possession and near impenetrable in defence.

Against the resurgent Roar who were undefeated from the last five games, Newcastle got the start they needed. Getting on the board in the 23rd minute, a quickly taken set-piece by Jobe Wheelhouse was finished off by the captain in a nice one-two with young-gun Ben Kantarovski.

For Brisbane the loss gives Wellington a chance to overtake them on the Hyundai A-League ladder should they taste success against Melbourne Heart on Sunday, while Newcastle move within reaching distance of the top six and a finals berth, sitting in seventh spot.

“It doesn’t take a lot; you put a few wins together and you shoot up the table,” said Jets coach Gary Van Egmond post match.

“To win away from home and to do it against Brisbane, it’s very pleasing.

“We’re happy that we didn’t concede and we’re looking forward to playing Sydney next week.”

The Football Sack's 'Player of the Year' points:

3 Ben Kantarovski

2 Ruben Zadkovich

1 Henrique