Despite dominating many aspects of their Boxing Day clash against Adelaide United the Gosford outfit again proved toothless in attack going down 1-0 to the home side.

The Reds took the lead through Ryan Kitto on 14 minutes and held out Paul Okon's men for the remainder of the match to secure just their second home win of the season.

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"We had the majority of the game but we didn't create enough chances as simple as that," Hoole told Fox Sports post match. "If you don't create chances you don't score.

"We get into good areas and then we seem to knock it back to half way. I'm not sure what that is. Is it a confidence thing? I'm not too sure.

"Credit to Adelaide they played well and I think they deserved the three points overall."

The Mariners have the second worst strike rate of the league with 13 goals, two more than Western Sydney Wanderers who have a game in hand.

Hoole added: "We need to keep believing that when we go forward we can be dangerous and that will come."

The win sees the Reds move to fourth on the A-League ladder while the Mariners stay in 7th, just outside finals contention.