Pragmatic Perth frustrate lackluster Jets

Football is a funny old game. It’s one of the few sports where the better team on the day doesn’t always get the biscuits. 

Perth Glory’s 1-0 victory over the Newcastle Jets on Saturday was the definition of a ‘snatch and grab’ job as the visitors nabbed a goal against the run of play and parked the bus.

But for a club in turmoil after sacking Coach Alistair Edwards less than two weeks ago and missing no less than seven regular starters - this was a fantastic result.

Interim Glory Boss Kenny Lowe was full of praise for his young brigade after they absorbed an avalanche of pressure in the second half especially given they looked out on their feet in the final twenty minutes.

“Yeah I think in the manner they did it, you’ve got a bunch of young boys, all of our senior players are out even (Jacob Burns) Burnsy was out today. We’ve got seven senior players out of the team,” he said.

“(Jets striker) Adam Taggart’s probably the same age as some of the boys that we had but he’s got more league games than all of them put together.

“You’ve really got to take credit and give it to those kids, they looked professional today, they rolled over, they delayed the game, they were utterly and totally professional.

There was a moment of contention in the 71^st minute when Jets defender Kew Jaliens bundled a half volley towards goal which was cleared off the line by Glory keeper Danny Vukovic with replays proving inconclusive as to whether it crossed the whitewash.

Jets players were adamant it was a goal and a bitterly disappointed Gary van Egmond expressed his frustration after the match.

“Yeah it’s a goal, there’s not much we can do about it other than the fact that the linesman didn’t give it,” he said. 

"They have a tough job there’s no doubt about that but at the end of the day you get put there to do that job and you have to make those decisions.

“I don’t think it was a case where it was just a little bit over the line, I thought the one we had against the Mariners was a tougher call than this one.”

Kenny Lowe was a tad more philosophical when quizzed on the incident.

“I Don’t believe the ref gave it so it couldn’t have been over the line. Last week we had 96^th minute and the ref sent somebody sent off and he put in his report that he didn’t know why he sent him off,” he said.

“It’s a funny game isn’t it, last week it was us, this week it’s Gary, next week it will be somebody else. You just roll with it, smile, take it on the chin and have some fun at the next game.”

Perth’s victory gave Lowe his first win in the A-League but rejected the idea that he was relieved instead he gave a frank assessment of his attitude towards football – ala Ian Holloway.

“No I’m a good coach, its nothing off my mind I’m having an absolute ball working with these players.  I enjoy it, you go on the training ground you have some fun, you try and implement things and its special when it come off,” he said.

“There’s no load for me, what’s the worst I can do, go back to engineering and earn a shit load of money.

“Its football, you’ve got to be balanced, stay calm, enjoy the ride, see where the journey takes you and hopefully have some fun along the way.”