MELBOURNE Victory coach Ernie Merrick insisted he was proud of the way his 10-man team reacted to seeing red again, despite crashing to a 2-0 defeat against Queensland Roar.
For the third game in a row, a Victory player was sent off, with Carlos Hernandez given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
“I’m proud of the players, it’s tough to play three games in a row with ten men,” Merrick said. “We couldn’t get into our rhythm in the first half, but in the second half we played our best football when we were down to 10 men.
“This wasn’t our most disappointing performance of the season – it’s hard to play outstanding football week-in-week out. I won’t take anything away from Queensland. They deserved it today.”
Merrick denied that Victory has been tainted by a malicious streak this season, claiming that his side has the lowest yellow card count in the league.
“There haven’t been any sendings off for breaking other players’ legs or anything like that,” he said. “I’m not sure what the second yellow card for Carlos was for.”
Queensland Roar boss Frank Farina said the result was a reflection of his team’s recent performances.
“I’ve been happy with the way we’ve been playing, we just haven’t taken our chances,” he said. “It would’ve been a travesty if we didn’t get three points today. We played very well and had four or five very good chances in the first half.
“I’ve always believed we have the talent to challenge (for the title) but we also need a bit of luck. We have a squad that can push for the title.”
Farina revealed that he will be implementing a new pre-match routine before home games in order to turn around Queensland’s poor record at Suncorp Stadium so far this season.
“We will go to a hotel the night before (the games),” he said. “I personally want to know what my players are doing, what and when they eat and when they sleep. That way, you know that they’re preparing in a way you want them to. It’s something we want to push in the club.”
“I’m proud of the players, it’s tough to play three games in a row with ten men,” Merrick said. “We couldn’t get into our rhythm in the first half, but in the second half we played our best football when we were down to 10 men.
“This wasn’t our most disappointing performance of the season – it’s hard to play outstanding football week-in-week out. I won’t take anything away from Queensland. They deserved it today.”
Merrick denied that Victory has been tainted by a malicious streak this season, claiming that his side has the lowest yellow card count in the league.
“There haven’t been any sendings off for breaking other players’ legs or anything like that,” he said. “I’m not sure what the second yellow card for Carlos was for.”
Queensland Roar boss Frank Farina said the result was a reflection of his team’s recent performances.
“I’ve been happy with the way we’ve been playing, we just haven’t taken our chances,” he said. “It would’ve been a travesty if we didn’t get three points today. We played very well and had four or five very good chances in the first half.
“I’ve always believed we have the talent to challenge (for the title) but we also need a bit of luck. We have a squad that can push for the title.”
Farina revealed that he will be implementing a new pre-match routine before home games in order to turn around Queensland’s poor record at Suncorp Stadium so far this season.
“We will go to a hotel the night before (the games),” he said. “I personally want to know what my players are doing, what and when they eat and when they sleep. That way, you know that they’re preparing in a way you want them to. It’s something we want to push in the club.”
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