But the former Rangers hero knows his side must find their form - and keep it - if they hope to make the top six following the heavy 4-1 defeat at Sydney Football Stadium.

"Our inconsistency showed again," Ferguson said. "We played well for a short time at the end of the first half and we finished strong, but we were 4-1 down and it was too late.

"We need to be more consistent - last week we played well for 70 minutes and this week we struggled for the same."

"We need to pick ourselves up and get back on the paddock and be ready for Perth next week."

Ferguson said he and the squad still had a lot to play for and the rollercoaster ride he predicted earlier in the club's debut season in the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season had not come as any surprise.

"We always knew we'd have our ups and downs in the first year," Ferguson said. "If everybody's being honest, we have had a lot of problems that are going to hurt any side.

"We've had injuries and had to make a lot of changes, but we still have a lot to play for because we are not that far outside the top six."