Brisbane Roar head coach Michael Valkanis has labelled last week’s loss to Macarthur Bulls as a slap in the face, but admits it’s one thats fuelling his side ahead of Wednesday’s clash with the Mariners.
The Roar were leading 1-0 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium before two second half Harrison Sawyer penalties saw Valkanis’ side leave South west Sydney empty handed, a result he believes was unjust.
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“Yeah, look, it was a tough loss to take, but one that we haven’t forgotten and we think about it because we gave away three points,” said Valkanis, when speaking to the press on Monday afternoon.
“I think we we did well enough and good enough to have taken those three points, so to have dropped them also spurs us on and to really focus and to really work even harder to get them back.
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“It gives you that little bit of time to assess, evaluate things, reset and get back to work, and that’s what the boys have done, which I’m super happy with this week’s preparation and the way they’ve gone about training, because you can see they’re really focused.
“The loss to Macarthur was a bit of a slap in the face that we didn’t take too lightly.”
Currently sat third on the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder, Valkanis’ side travel to Gosford on New Year’s Eve to face a Central Coast Mariners side currently sat last on the ladder, and the Roar boss hopes his side can ruin the party at polytec Stadium.
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Michael Valkanis
“The one thing you can you can look at is that they’re a good team that fights, that can play good football, and you can’t look at the ladder. That’s one thing you can’t do in the A-League.
“I’ve said it from day one. You can’t disrespect anyone. You can’t look at the ladder and judge anyone. You got to take every game, game by game, and really work hard in every game to earn the points.
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“So it’s going to be a tough game, especially away from home, in (what is) a celebratory type of way where they prepare for a game before New Year.
“So yeah, we’re hoping to go there and stuff up their celebrations and take three points.”
The Roar head to Gosford with a fully fit squad aside from injured midfielder Milorad Stajic, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
That squad depth is certainly going to be handy for Valkanis in the coming weeks, with Wednesday’s game against the Mariners the first of what will be a run of four games in the space of ten days.
Following their game in Gosford, Brisbane Roar then play Wellington Phoenix at home on January 3, travel away to Melbourne City on January 6 before welcoming Auckland FC to Queensland on January 9.
