The men in blue crashed 4-2 in front of their own supporters on what was supposed to be the night Mark Rudan was handed a winning send off.

Instead, defensive lapses proved very costly with Billy Celeski netting a hat-trick, his first two goals as a result of poor play by Sydney. It ended Kosmina’s unbeaten start as coach but he isn’t about to press the panic button.

He said: “I’m disappointed. It was a good opportunity for us to get a spot in the four tonight and we didn’t take it.

"When you give cheap goals away it’s always hard to play catch-up. Having said that, we had enough opportunities.

"Brosquey could have had a couple with a bit of luck. It’s how it bounces sometimes. As I said though, we gave them a three-goal start.”

Kosmima rejected any notion that the mental preparation of the players had not been right and that they had underestimated Perth. He said: “Not at all, not in the least.”

The coach was very upset with the nature of the goals conceded. He said: “You talk about not playing straight balls in the middle of the park. We did it twice and got caught. Then for the third goal we’ve three against one. It shouldn’t happen.”

Kosmina was still able to find a positive in his first setback as coach though. He said: “We needed that I think. It’ll probably do us the world of good because we’ve a tough one next week against the Mariners.

“But we’re still good enough to be in the four.”