Mark Rudan said he was happy with his team’s display but errors at crucial moments and the side’s finishing cost the side on Saturday against Wellington Phoenix in Ballarat.
Uffuk Talay’s in-form Kiwi side defeated United 3-1 at a packed Mars Stadium (attendance just over 5,000) in an entertaining clash, the first official A-League game to be played in Ballarat.
“We tried to press higher, we had more of the ball, more chances, more shots but the result wasn’t what we wanted,” Rudan told reporters after the game.
The Green and Black went in at the break a goal down but showed plenty of promise after the break. However, two goals to the visitors made it a tough task.
A penalty scored by captain Alessandro Diamanti gave the fans some hope in the 89th minute but it was too little too late and the visitors ran out 3-1 winners.
“We got done on the counter-attack particular with the first one. Little errors. It’s a tough one to take because basically it was those little errors that cost us today.
“Other than that, with the ball we were a lot better than in the last few weeks. The boys worked hard, I can’t have too much of a go at them because the effort was still there in testing conditions.
“Errors cost us.”
United has a chance to get back to winning ways next Friday night in a Melbourne Derby against City at AAMI Park.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Western United’s next home game is against the Central Coast Mariners on January 19 at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong.
CLICK HERE to buy tickets.
CLICK HERE to become a Western United member.
