Melbourne Victory head coach Kevin Muscat was unhappy with his team’s first-half performance in its loss to Brisbane Roar.
Massimo Maccarone and Brett Holman scored first-half goals as Roar made the most of their chances in a 2-1 win at AAMI Park on Friday.
James Troisi scored a stunning goal in the second half, but Victory was unable to find an equaliser.
Speaking at a news conference, Muscat was asked about his side’s display and the impact of his substitutes.
on the performance…
“I thought we started really bright, albeit it was for five-odd minutes or so. The first time they venture into our box, as a group, the defending gifts them a goal really. It’s a good strike by Maccarone by all means, he should never have been in a situation to get a shot on goal. Then, we give ourselves a mountain to climb. The first half, if we’re brutally honest, it’s nowhere near good enough, nowhere near acceptable. Individually, we’ve got to take responsibility for our actions.”
on Brisbane’s goals…
“A couple of moments there where as a group we don’t defend anywhere near desperately enough and anywhere near good enough because the two goals – fair play to Brisbane – but the two goals were gifted. The second goal we give away in a poor area and leave ourselves vulnerable and concede a goal in transition. To eliminate transition, first and foremost, you’ve got to keep possession of the ball. To be giving it away in your back third, you’re asking for trouble. We give ourselves a mountain to climb. There’s no excuse whatsoever for that first-half performance. It wasn’t good enough and it’s not acceptable and it needs to be addressed.”
on the impact of his substitutes Troisi, Kenny Athiu and Josh Hope…
“Josh was very lively, Kenny caused some problems. He’s waited a while for his opportunity and collectively, I think the three of them had an impact and at that time, the whole second half I think we were on top of them, there’s no denying that, we had that many actions and moments in their box that could’ve been different, but I think overall we’ve only got ourselves to blame for that and we’ve got to take responsibility. The three boys that came on, I don’t think I could’ve asked any more of them.”
