Entering his first AFC Champions League post match media conference a winner, Mullen could not have been prouder of the Reds' efforts.

"It was a very good performance by the players. I thought tonight the defence was very sound and our attacking movement was good when we could go forward," Mullen said.

"Certainly the first 15-20 minutes was tough, we knew it was going to be tough, they (Pohang) are a very good football team and we had to weather that storm, and I thought we did that very well.

"To get the goal right at the death of half time was a perfect time to score and that was just through sheer endeavour, commitment and tenacity from Leckie, and I thought that mirrored our performance of the whole team tonight, I thought the players were fantastic."

The performance was definitely not one of a side that finished rock bottom of the A-League, and when quizzed on where the that type of performance was in the Hyundai A-League, Mullen could not come up with a definitive answer but credited the injection of a number of new players into the squad.

"I think in the A-League it was fair to say that although the team was playing well in parts, they just failed to score at crucial periods of games and then when they went behind, it's a self fulfilling prophesy that it's going to be a tough day at the office," Mullen said.

"I think with some players of the calibre of a van Dijk and Flores, particularly offensively, it has given the players that belief."

As for the match-winner Mullen was happy to sing Mathew Leckie's praises.

"He can fight with the ball sometimes technically but he's got raw speed and aggression...and he puts defenders on the back foot, he's a terrific prospect," Mullen added.