Brisbane Roar a production house of talent

For Brisbane Roar, it is not so much getting what they paid for as reaping the rewards of investment.

Credit: Brisbane Roar

The shortage of opportunities for anyone other than high-class first-eleven player or promisingly talented youngster continued to pay dividends in Roar's 1-0 win over Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadium.

Last weekend's hoodoo-shattering win over Western Sydney identified the categories by which Brisbane's squad is split as a trio of spectacular goals - the kind needed to defeat the premiers - were shared between the two.

While Sunday's result was far simpler, it was no less a tribute to Mike Mulvey's pre-season planning.

Joining Roar captain Matt Smith in shielding debutant Matt Acton, 21, from an adventurous Perth line-up was Jack Hingert, 23, James Donachie, 20, and Corey Brown, 19, and their coach was quick to acknowledge the performance of his young back four.

"I am exceptionally pleased with the defensive performance," Mulvey said.

"I thought we were alert, we were resolute and I am absolutely delighted for Matt Acton who makes his debut and keeps a clean sheet."

When the former Queensland Academy of Sport head coach speaks of his early wish as Brisbane boss to have two players for every position it is clear now that secondary positions are reserved only for supremely impressive youth, to soon grow into the matchwinning roles of stars like Besart Berisha.

"If I use Kwame [Yeboah] as an example, I thought when he came on that was his most complete performance in terms of combination play and being involved in the game for the team," Mulvey said.

"What that shows to me is that he is maturing as a player and he is feeling more confident within himself as well. That is what is happening all over the park."

Perth Glory coach Alistair Edwards raised similar hopes of a productive marriage of experience and youth for his side.

"Everyone talks about our young guys and what we are doing moving forward but the likes of [Steve] Pantelidis, Michael Thwaite and Danny Vukovic, all those guys are immense for us," Edwards said.

"It is great to have those guys playing well."

Edwards noted one particular member of the hosts' numerous attacking threats as being the difference in his side's loss.

"The difference [was] Berisha and I think that is happening quite a lot in games," he said.

And therein lies the beauty for Brisbane right now; young or old, Yeboah or Berisha, their investment in pure quality - not 'safe' contingency plans - is winning matches whether they are as expected or snapping rivals' unbeaten records.

You get the feeling Mike Mulvey knows he has it right.

"We are all in it together. It is a real special place at the moment," the Roar coach said.

Brisbane Roar:
Acton (gk), Hingert, Donachie, Smith, Brown, Brattan, Franjic, McKay, Henrique, Berisha, Broich.
Subs: Chalmers (gk), Ferreira, Petratos, Yeboah, Borrello.

Perth Glory:
Vukovic (gk), Pantelidis, Thwaite, Clisby, Nagai, C. Edwards, McGarry, Sidnei, R. Edwards, Maclaren, Smeltz.
Subs: Duncan (gk), Davies, O'Neill, Woodcock, Harold.

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