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Sydney FC star Nicky Carle believes Brisbane Roar’s recent defeats have given hope to every club in the A-League that anything is possible this season. The Roar were beaten 2-0 by Wellington on Wednesday night to slump to their third-straight loss after falling to Sydney and Melbourne Heart.
Premiers Brisbane, who lead the competition on goal difference over Central Coast, had an Australian record of 36-straight games without a loss before Sydney shocked them 2-0.
“A few weeks ago everyone would have told you that Brisbane are going to win (the A-League) hands down,” Carle said.
“After their disappointing three games it’s just given everyone that bit of hope and put everyone back in the running.
“The competition has definitely opened up … although I do think they are a very good side and will bounce back.”
Sydney head up the F3 motorway on Saturday to play Newcastle and will be looking for a vastly improved effort after a dreary 0-0 draw with bottom-side Gold Coast last week.
“It was definitely frustrating after the performance against Brisbane,” Carle said.
“We all know we’ve got to do better and that it wasn’t up to our standard.”
The Phoenix’s win over Brisbane resulted in them joining Sydney and the Heart on 15 points, with the New Zealand side fourth on goal difference and the Sky Blues fifth.
A former Newcastle marquee player, Carle said there was no room for emotion on Saturday.
“I enjoyed my time there but the most important thing for me is to get the three points for Sydney and help us climb up that ladder,” he said.
Coach Vitezslav Lavicka said his team was disappointed with the Gold Coast match but had put it behind them with a solid week at training.
“We had a game analysis and the boys know they have to play better,” he said.
“They (Newcastle) have a very strong side especially at home and we are expecting a tough game but we are ready.”
Lavicka is in his third season at Sydney and is off contract at the end of the year.
Critics have been circling him for a while and he knows there’s only one way for him to keep the job he loves.
“Everything is about results and they will determine if the Sydney FC board is happy with my work or not,” Lavicka said.
A call will be made after training on Friday whether duo Mark Bridge and teenager Terry Antonis will take on the Jets.
The pair missed Sydney’s past two games with Bridge suffering a back problem while 18-year-old Antonis has been rested after racking up more than 20,000km travelling for Olyroos and A-League games before Sydney decided to give him a break.
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