The defending champions looked headed for a draw against their arch rivals and the reigning premiers before conceding a second goal just 10 minutes from time, consigning them to their fifth loss of the season.

Paartalu says constantly haranguing the squad was unhelpful and added: “I think the more positive the comments coming out of the club, the better for the team.

“The defending wasn’t great for the last goal but in times like this we all need to stick together. So I think everyone needs to remember that – coach, manager, staff included.

“Blaming people, making accusations and negative comments isn’t going to get anybody anywhere. We need to try and take the positives out of the game from the weekend and move forward as one.

“It may not happen for us next week but I guarantee if we stick together and if we’re all pulling in the same direction, saying the right things to each other and trying to help each other I certainly see us going forward and we will move up the table.”

The result saw Graham Arnold’s men pick up their first home win against Brisbane in an A-League regular-season game and left the Queensland outfit off the pace at the wrong end of the league table.

Former assistant coach Vidosic complained post match that his players weren’t sticking to the gameplan and needed “to have a good look at themselves”.

And Paartalu said that while the results were concerning, it was not a case of the back-to-back champions letting success go to their heads.

“It’s definitely not that,” he said. “The effort is still there – our desire to win things is still there. I just think we’ve switched off in key moments in games.

“I think we’ve been reasonable in most games – particularly the first half – we just can’t seem to put a 90 minute performance together and we’re not getting the results.

“But you know you can never fault the effort of the boys, we’re always going to try our best but, like I said, there’s something missing at the moment.”

With defenders Matt Smith and Ivan Franjic selected for the Socceroos provisional squad to play in the EAFF East Asian Cup qualifiers next month, the former Scottish Premier League player hinted it might be time to give 19-year-old Yuji Takahashi a run in the first team.

The central defender joined the champions on a one-year loan deal from J.League 2 outfit Kyoto Purple Sanga but has been shunted to the youth league. At the time of his signing Takahashi, who has represented his country at U18 and U19 levels, said he wanted to play games and improve his skills.

Roar speedster Ben Halloran has also been called into the 25-player Socceroos squad which will be culled to 20 later in the week, making Saturday’s home game against Newcastle Jets a tricky assignment.

“Fingers crossed the boy’s get to represent their country, I think that’s fantastic for them personally, but for us as a team we’d like to have one or two of them back – that’s for sure,” Paartalu said.

“In defence we’ve got enough quality from the young boys in the youth team and obviously we’ve got Takahashi, a Japanese import who hasn’t played a game yet.”

Paartalu added: “There’s no real point in signing a player from a foreign country and not giving him an opportunity when it arises.”

Meanwhile the 26-year-old, who comes off contract in April, revealed his own frustration at failing to make Holger Osieck’s team sheet, conceding he is at a loss to explain the omission.

“I was gutted for a couple of days last week but at the same time you’ve got to pick yourself up and move on,” he said.

“Two years in the A-League, this is my third season, I’ve played every single game, I’ve not missed a minute of the football.

“If you look at my stats I’m probably one of the best midfielders in the country, playing in the best club for two years, winning two titles with Brisbane – everything was pointing in the right direction.

“I questioned everything for those couple of days, did a lot of soul-searching but if I look at all my stats there’s not a lot more I can do.”