The loss makes it harder for the 8th placed Jets to make the finals series with Western Sydney Wanderers (6th) take on Wellington Phoenix (7th) facing off tomorrow.

The former Socceroo, who was in charge of the game as coach Mark Jones served a ban in the stands, believed the game could have been different, notably when Andrew Nabbout squandered a one-on-one  opportunity in the opening five minutes.

“We’ve put ourselves in a position where we’re very reliant on other people’s results and it’s been like that for the last couple of weeks,” Zane said.

“We’ve had good opportunities we could’ve capitalised on and we haven’t done so.  I don’t think tonight really falls into that category, but start the game OK and get the first goal and it could have been a different night for us.”

Defender, Daniel Mullen, conceded a penalty when he fouled Bruce Kamau with 15 minutes remaining which left Bruno Fornaroli net the third of the night to ice the game.

Zane said they had a problem in giving away soft penalties this season.

“It’s getting harder and harder (to make the top six), the boys know that and they’re totally disappointed,” he said

“I was the one on the bench and I felt at 2-0 we needed to still have a crack. We were open and we got picked off numerous times.

“We needed to try and pick a point up and you get deflated when the third one goes in. A soft penalty, and we’ve given a few of those away throughout the year, and we’re left in a position a little bit by our failure to capitalise.”

The Jets sit three points off the top six and still have an opportunity to make finals when they take on Wellington, Western Sydney and Central Coast in the next few weeks.