Goalkeeper Max Crocombe says it’s only a matter of time before the Roar reap the rewards from a number of strong performances.
The New Zealand international kept his first clean sheet in the Roar’s scoreless draw against the then ladder leaders Western Sydney – a fixture the Roar were unlucky not to leave with maximum points.
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Building on that performance and turning it in to an important three points is the focus for the Roar ahead of Sunday evening’s Remembrance Round meeting against Adelaide United.
“It was a good point on the road, we were unlucky not to win it [the game]. We’re looking to build on that and pick up the three points on Sunday,” Crocombe said on Saturday morning.
“It’s a matter of time with us – we’re playing some great football in attack and we’re solid at the back. We just need to keep playing good football and the results will follow.”
“It [the Roar’s defensive record] is a testament as to how we’ve been defending as a team – we’ve defended from the front, not given many chances away & I think we’ll get our rewards for that.”
Head Coach Robbie Fowler shares similar sentiments with the gaffer pleased with how his side is tracking after a tough opening to the campaign.
Throughout the opening four rounds, the Roar have faced defending premiers Perth Glory, the then-ladder leading Wanderers and perennial contenders Melbourne Victory with the next test being on the road to the FFA Cup holders.
“To go to the league leaders and get the draw, we were buoyed by that performance,” Fowler said.
“We are playing good football and we’re not far from where we want to be. It’s how football is sometimes, you can control games but things just don’t go your way – hopefully that changes soon.
“We knew it would be a tough start [to the season], but we’re not a bad side and we’re playing the right way.”
18 goals found the back of the net in meetings between the sides last season with another typically entertaining clash on the cards.
Both sides will also don commemorative kits to pay their respects as the Hyundai A-League commemorates Remembrance Round.
“It’ll be a good game, we’ve done a lot of work on the way they play. We know that we have to be on top of our game to get a result,” Fowler continued.
“We know their strengths, a few of their weaknesses and now we need to put that into good practice.
“I’m chuffed with what the Club, all the other clubs and the league are doing. It’s important that we remember the people who gave everything for what we’re doing today. It’s only right that we do it and remember those who lost their lives.”
MATCH DETAILS
Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Round 5: Adelaide United v Brisbane Roar
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Sunday, 10 November (5pm KO QLD time)
Adelaide United squad: 2.Michael MARRONE, 4.Ryan STRAIN, 5.Michaël MARIA, 6.Vince LIA, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.Riley McGREE, 10.James TROISI, 11.Kristian OPSETH, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIĆ, 20.Paul IZZO, 22.Michael JAKOBSEN (c), 24.Pacifique NIYONGABIRE, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 30.Isaac RICHARDS (gk), 33.Cooper NUNN, 35.Al Hassan TOURE, 36.Noah SMITH, 37.Jai KING
Ins: 24. Pacifique NIYONGABIRE (promoted), 33.Cooper NUNN (promoted), 36.Noah SMITH (promoted), 37.Jai KING (promoted)
Outs: 18.Lachlan BROOK (international duty), 27.Louis D’ARRIGO (international duty)
Unavailable: 14.George BLACKWOOD (glute), 23.Jordan ELSEY (knee), 31.Mirko BOLAND (hamstring), 34.Yared ABETEW (ankle)
Brisbane Roar squad: 1.Max CROCOMBE (gk), 2.Scott NEVILLE, 4.Daniel BOWLES, 5.Tom ALDRED (c), 6.Macaulay GILLESPHEY, 7.Jai INGHAM, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Bradden INMAN, 12.Aiden O’NEILL, 13.Stefan MAUK, 14.George MELLS, 15.Aaron REARDON, 20.Aaron AMADI-HOLLOWAY, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Jake MCGING, 23.Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 24.Connor O’TOOLE, 25.Rahmat AKBARI, 26.Jay O’SHEA **2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 14.George MELLS (promoted), 15.Aaron REARDON (promoted), 24.Connor O’TOOLE (promoted), 25.Rahmat AKBARI (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 19.Jack HINGERT (knee)
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 6:00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 7 (New Zealand), Kayo Sports (www.kayosports.com.au) and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers
Radio Broadcast: myfootballnation.com (1116SEN & SEN3, SEN+, SEN2 (following Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix match), 5AA, 4BC). ABC Adelaide, ABC Brisbane, ABC SA, ABC Qld, Grandstand Digital & Online
Referee: Alireza Faghani
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream
Assistant Referee 2: Paul Cetrangolo
Fourth Official: Daniel Elder
VAR: Kurt Ams
