The Roar's A-League Men tips and predictions: Round 26 - the jostle for finals positions is on in earnest
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Sydney FC coach Steve Corica saw plenty of positives from his side’s draw in the Sydney derby on Saturday.
Corica says his team will have no problems rediscovering their ruthless attacking streak after getting their A-League season underway.
The Sky Blues were frustrated in a 0-0 stalemate against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Parramatta’s Commbank Stadium on Saturday but had ample chances to crack the deadlock.
At times Corica’s side dominated proceedings, but they were unable to find the breakthrough they needed even when the Wanderers began to fall off the pace.
“I think we played really well,” Corica said after the first scoreless Sydney derby in four years.
“I was happy with the performance. Maybe in the final third, we can improve a little bit, creating more chances, but overall we dominated for most of the game.
“It was just that final pass and the finish that was missing, I’m okay with it.
“We were good, we’re going to improve, we’ve got players who are out and will come back into the side.”
After such a long pre-season, you could have forgiven the Sky Blues for not firing on all cylinders in the final third.
Elvis Kamsoba, Adam Le Fondre and Trent Buhagiar all had good chances but were unable to beat the Wanderers’ Spanish goalkeeper Tomas Mejias.
“I wouldn’t say it was rust,” he said.
“I would say it’s the big derby and there’s a lot at stake in this game.
“I think if we had got that goal we needed, it would have opened up a little bit more.
“We kept a clean sheet but we wanted to go on and win that game.”
The suspended Luke Brattan and the injured duo of Kosta Barbarouses and Bobo failed to take the field on Saturday night but Corica was hopeful he’d be close to full complement in no time at all.
“(It will be) a couple of weeks, they’ll come back at separate times,” Corica added.
“Connor O’Toole is probably the longest out. The other boys are not too far away.”
© AAP
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Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
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