City start brightly but can’t get the win.

Mombaerts had spoken during the week about how his side needed to start brightly against the visitors and the opening stages of the game showed that his sentiments had not just been idle talk.  

A number of early chances were created by the Frenchman’s side, with Reddy’s spectacular save in the 13th minute denying a chance that, on most days, would have found the back of the net.

Unfortunately for the home fans in attendance, the defensive steel that Glory under Popovic are so renewed for began to show as the opening 45 progressed.

Clear and incisive chance began to dry up and long balls forward became increasingly common – a tactic not inclined to work against a towering Glory defence featuring Tomislav Mrcela, Alex Grant and Gregory Wuthrich.

The game then descending into an arm wrestle after about the half an hour mark, City continued to create chances but couldn’t make them count and were eventually forced to settle for just a point.

“I think maybe in play we had better chances than Perth,” Erick Mombaerts said post-game.

“I want to congratulate our team on our defensive performance, we were very strong.

“It was a very tough game, two good teams. We had to adapt with not only a new style but two new players. They played for the first time.

“We can improve. We can do better with these two players. We can find better opportunities in the build-up and combine movement.

Of course, it must be acknowledged that it could have been a lot worse for City; their mental struggles in the past often seeing games such as Saturday night’s ending in defeat.

Their final substitutions in the dying stages, bringing on the defensively-minded Rostyn Griffiths and Scott Galloway, indicated that they were likely very happy to get out of AAMI Park without the defeat.

“It was just because we don’t have too many options at midfield,” Mombaerts said on the change.

“We have Connor away and we don’t have too many options to change. Our other midfielder was tired, so we had to change.”

One streak ends, but another continues

Glory entered Saturday evening’s contest riding a wave of momentum; a slow start to the season long forgotten in the wake of Popovic’s side rattling off a club-record six straight wins ahead of the round 16.

It was the longest winning streak the A-League had witnessed since Sydney FC fired off seven wins on the bounce during the 2017/18 season.

Though that streak has now come to end, the visitors were still able to make a long away trip to face the A-League’s second-placed side and come away with a point that keeps them a point clear of fourth-placed Wellington Phoenix with a game in hand.

They have now also gone almost seven hours without conceding a goal and an undefeated streak can now begin.

“We’re happy,” Popovic said post-game.

“Of course we’re happy. We’re away from home, we’ve had two consecutive tough games. We’re playing a team that’s expected to be up there. It’s very good.

“I couldn’t see [the penalty decision]. He gave a penalty and we were told it was for offside on Bruno but I didn’t get to see the replay. of it.

“It was a tough game, it was a big game for them as well and we saw they did a few things differently. We’re happy.

“Usually on one moment can make a difference, we almost had a penalty, some good moments in the box.”

New kids on the block

While his addition hadn’t demanded the headlines that Marco Rojas arrival at cross-town foes Melbourne Victory, Jack Hendry’s loan move from Celtic to City looks, going by first appearances, to have been a sharp bit of business.

Though City had cheekily attempted to hint that they were set to line up with a back five ahead of the contest, Hendry’s debut instead led a reshuffle in the backline that saw Harrison Delbridge move out to the right-back position and the Scot take up a place in the centre next to Good.

Handed his first start after a brief cameo against Newcastle Jets the week prior, Markel Susaeta showed flashes of the skills that had helped him forge a long and successful career with Athletic Bilbao in La Liga without every truly stamping his authority during the 73 minutes he received before being replaced by Nathaniel Atkinson.

Despite most signs being to the contrary, City has been insistent in recent weeks that the race for the Premier’s Plate is not a fait accompli, citing the length of the season to go and Sydney FC’s upcoming Asian Champions League campaign as reasons to keep the Sky Blue champaign on ice.

If they are to put their words into action they will likely need Hendry and Susaeta to fire.

Though it is an incredibly small sample size, Saturday showed they have the potential to, at the very least, contribute.