Despite isolated promising moments, Reza Ghoochannedjad and Adam le Fondre are yet to combine prolifically for the Sky Blues.

Siem de Jong's absence has been regarded as pivotal, with Sydney criticised for their inability to create clear-cut chances for the dual forwards and their over-reliance on Ninkovic. 

But the Serbian playmaker believes it's not due to lack of chances, and he may have a point. Ghoochannedjad has only scored once in his first five matches for Sydney, despite registering 17 shots.

“If you look at the games, how we play, we do well,” Ninkovic said.

“Even on Sunday, first half we did well, we kept the ball and created some chances but couldn’t score a goal.

“We need to be more ruthless in front of goal. It’s not up to the coach it’s about the players, we played well but can’t score a goal. The coach can’t come on the pitch and score goals."

Sydney are now nine points behind Perth after a disappointing 2-0 loss to Melbourne City. The Sky Blues dominated the first half but were unable to convert a series of half-chances, before a measured City display and two Shayon Harrison goals caught them on the counter in the second.

The result effectively ended Sydney's hope of a third straight A-League Premiership, which Ninkovic alluded to in admitting that last season's squad - featuring season-high record goalscorer Bobo and Johnny Warren medallist Adrian Mierzejewski - would have converted these opportunities.

But with the likes of de Jong still to return and an extended break from A-League and Champions League to look forward to, Ninkovic was typically relaxed about their future.

“If you look at the last three years every shot on goal was basically a goal,” he continued.

“Sometimes this happens in football, it happens to the strikers that they can’t score, I hope that when the playoffs start, we will be more relaxed in front of goal.

“We need to work hard every day and now we have a break it’s good for us because we don’t have a game next week.

“For everyone it’s hard, it doesn’t matter if you’re 34 or 25. Especially with the travel, it’s not a big deal if you play every three days, in Europe they do the same, but the travel is a bit hard."