Brisbane roaring again

In the words of cheeky rival coach Miron Bleiberg, Brisbane Roar should have been celebrating like “Spain had won the World Cup”.

But in an encouraging sign for long-suffering Roar fans, Brisbane coach Ange Postecoglou was hardly satisfied with a 0-0 draw with A-League rivals Gold Coast United on Sunday.

“We created some good opportunities, but we probably lacked that cutting edge,” he said following their dominant Skilled Park performance.

“But in having said that I was pleased with how the guys went about it.

“I believe in this team, hopefully this gives the team some belief.”

Of course, he would have happily accepted the result last season – they lost all three derbies against the glamour club including a 5-1 Boxing Day massacre.

That result did more than just extend United’s unbeaten run over the Roar.

Brisbane never recovered from the belting, freefalling to second-last on the ladder – their worst ever season finish.

Sweeping changes were ushered in by Postecoglou, signing 12 new players in the off-season.

“We got beaten 5-1. We said we had forgotten about it but of course it is in the memory,” Roar captain Matt McKay said.

“We put in a performance that is a ton better than Boxing Day – it brings a lot of heart for the side.

“All the boys here believe now.”

While the Roar had their chances – mainly McKay’s sprayed volley in the 77th minute – United coach Bleiberg arguably took more shots at Brisbane after the game than his side did during it.

Apart from his quip comparing the Roar’s effort with Spain’s World Cup triumph, Bleiberg said it looked like the teams had swapped jerseys at the start of the game.

“They played like Gold Coast United and we played like Brisbane Roar in the first half – it wasn’t good,” he said.

As cheeky as Bleiberg was, Postecoglou said United’s star-studded side were still a great gauge for his new-look team’s progress.

“For all the hoopla around the team they are a good team (Gold Coast),” he said.

“And if you can do it against quality sides there is no reason why you can’t do it every week – it’s a good start.”

United captain Jason Culina admitted his men weren’t familiar with a lot of the Roar’s new faces – but they were more than aware of keeper Michael Theoklitos by fulltime.

The former Melbourne gloveman was impressive when United came alive in the second half, at one stage making three saves in five minutes.

This time last year – to the day – Theoklitos was Norwich’s unfortunate keeper when they lost their Championship clash 7-1 in England.

Twelve months later he proved the difference for the Roar – his best effort coming in the 66th minute when he stopped a rampaging Joel Porter.

“I know a lot of the focus is on what happened to him last year but…he has a good head on his shoulders,” Postecoglou said.

“He made some critical saves. He was important.”

Mind you, United gloveman Glen Moss was no slouch either.

Indeed it was hard to believe he was only New Zealand’s No.2 keeper at the recent World Cup.

“That’s why Miron has brought him to the club – he saved us a few times,” Culina said.

But in a concern for Postecoglou, veteran Massimo Murdocca was lost to a quad injury in the first half.

The match was played in front of the lowest attendance of the round – 6394.

But it was better than United’s ordinary season average of 5297.

Much of the pre-match hype surrounded United marksman Shane Smeltz after his shock return from China.

But the Kiwi striker went missing on Sunday, only bobbing up in the 84th minute to provide a tame header for Theoklitos to catch.