Coaches content with performances in thriller

Both Mike Mulvey and Ange Postecoglou declared satisfactions with their sides' performances in Saturday night's 1-1 draw at Suncorp Stadium.

Credit: Brisbane Roar

Brisbane made most of the play throughout the high-tempo match but were unable to create the opportunities Melbourne Victory managed, though Ivan Franjic did eventually cancel out Leigh Broxham's miraculous early opener.

Roar coach Mulvey was appreciative of the first-half saves his 'keeper Michael Theo made to keep the hosts in the hunt for their 59th minute equaliser.

"Michael made two fantastic saves, and I said to him at half-time: 'you have earned us something out of this game' and that was proven right in the second half, because we got the goal back," he said.

"It was disappointing to lose the first goal because the smallest man on the field scored it. We just got caught out - a little lapse in concentration - but I'm very pleased with the way we tried to play the game."

Victory boss Postecoglou, on his second return to Suncorp Stadium since leaving Brisbane, was disappointed his side were unable to convert those first half chances, but thought a draw was "probably a fair result".

"I thought we had two absolute golden opportunities in the first half, one-on-one with Michael and he's pulled off two good saves so that's probably where the game was there for the taking for us," he said.

"We had some good chances to go two up which would have made it difficult; we didn't take them, then they scored and we had to absorb some pressure there. Overall I thought it wasn't too bad. We came here to do a job, we kind of almost did it, but probably did enough to earn a point.

"Going into this final stretch now it's very important that we are consistent with our approach and our performances so that whether it is home or away we know we are going to put up a good show and be hard to beat, and I thought there were signs of that tonight."

Mulvey, who earlier this season reversed Postecoglou's move by switching Victory's W-League team for the Queensland capital, was still pleased with the reigning champions' overall performance despite their inability to force a winner.

Unlike their opponents on the night, and despite now being unbeaten in four A-League matches, Brisbane remain caught in the scramble for finals positions.

"The style of football we're playing, I'm comfortable with. We're moving the ball comfortably between the lines, we just needed to do it with a little bit more speed tonight, face forward a little bit more when we were on the edge of the box and get those combinations happening," Mulvey said.

"If we continue in our current vein in terms of the way we are passing the ball and moving, we don't go into any game with any fears at all."