United ready to end the late drama against Perth Glory

Ahead of Perth's visit to Ballarat, Western United coach John Aloisi doesn’t believe back-to-back games in which his side has conceded late and dropped points are indicative of a deeper-lying issue.

If games of football ended the moment the clock hit 90 minutes, Western United would be preparing to host Perth Glory in Ballarat this Saturday riding a three-game winning streak, with a chance to drag themselves off the foot of the A-League Men's table by making it four on the bounce.

They’d have done so despite a wave of injuries and injuries and suspensions that forced the likes of Josh Risdon, Ben Garrucio, James Donachie, and first-choice keeper Tom Heward-Belle to watch various amounts of this run from the sidelines. 

Alas for Aloisi and company, however, injury time is a thing. And it’s proved costly in recent weeks.

95th and 98th-minute goals from Melbourne Victory’s Damien Da Silva and a 91st-minute effort from Brisbane Roar's Jonas Markovski have turned what would have been 1-0 and 2-1 wins into a defeat and a draw across the past fortnight, ensuring United remain seven points adrift of 11th-placed Newcastle – whom they defeated 2-0 three weeks ago – and rooted to the foot of the table. 

But coach John Aloisi doesn’t believe these gut-punch finishes are indicative of a deeper-lying problem. 

“We're focused on the performances really over the last three games,” said Aloisi. “We could have easily got nine points from those three. 

“With having so many players unavailable for selection and to still be able to perform like that, in conditions that are very tough up in Brisbane – Melbourne City, not long ago, went up there and got beat 5-1 – so to be in that position was a real positive. 

“And [you] learn how to see out games. You show certain things, you speak about it and the younger boys will learn from that.

“After, in hindsight, people say 'Oh, you sat off and you invited pressure'. But we didn't sit off against Brisbane. 

“What happened at the beginning of the second half was that a few of our players that hadn't played much fatigued and they scored just as we were making our subs... so it looks like when it went to 1-1 we started to play again but it was because we knew that we need to make those changes.

“When they came on, we started to control the game again and push and we deserved to go back in front. 

“And then we were still pressing but they ended up having to take risks and throw men forward and they threw men forward and caught us out. 

“We know that we could have defended that situation better, that was it. It wasn't because we invited pressure. They're playing at home, they're throwing men forward, and they're going to create a few chances here and there. And then that's what happened.”

Fortunately for Aloisi’s hopes of grabbing a few more wins, some reinforcement is coming: Daniel Penha likely returning in some capacity against Perth after missing the draw against the Roar while Ben Garrucio is in line to return after a month on the sidelines. 

23-year-old Matt Sutton goalkeeper will get a second start in as many weeks, with the finger injury that had struck Heward-Belle worse than first thought ruling him out for likely another two or three weeks as he attempts to avoid surgery. 

After scoring his third goal in five games off the bench against the Roar, Noah Botic is in contention to return to the starting lineup alongside Nikita Rukavytsya, who netted his first goal in green and black in Brisbane.

“It's a good headache to have, finally, that we've got some more options up top and more options throughout the team,” said Aloisi.

Glory heads to Victoria’s goldfields unbeaten in their last six games and possessing both the league’s most free-scoring attack and leakiest defence, their coach Alen Stajcic declaring on Thursday that the push for finals remained very much on at Perth Oval. 

However, the coach won’t be in the dugout on Saturday, with a fifth yellow card of the season picked up against Wellington last week automatically triggering a one-game ban – assistant Nahuel Arrarte instead set to lead the team as Stajcic watches on from the stands.

"I would have liked to have seen him before the game and postgame,” said Aloisi. “It's a pity because I haven't caught up with Staj for a while.

“If they're going to give up chances we'll try and capitalise on that but we also have to make sure that we're defensively good because they can catch you, they can catch you on the counter. 

“Not only that, when they play their football, they get a lot of bodies forward. So it can become end-to-end, counter-attacking football from both sides. 

“So if we can counter, yes we will but if not, then we'll try and keep the ball and make sure that we don't make it a game that's so stretched because if it is they can hurt you.”

Saturday is potentially the last home game United will play in Ballarat, with Aloisi saying he hoped the club would stage its final three home games in April at their new training base, at which temporary seating began installation this week. 

The coach is also anticipating his side beginning to train in the facility later this month, citing March 20 as a potential date.