Tara Murray
A strong performance from Western United against Newcastle Jets only resulted in a draw in the A-League on Wednesday.
United was the better side for much of the game and led by 1-0 at half time on the road.
The Jets got one back through a set piece in the second half to level the scores. Neither team was able to find a winner, with the teams sharing the points in the 1-1 result.
United coach John Aloisi said they thought they deserved to win the game.
“The first half we were excellent the way we played,” he said. “The way we moved the ball around, our intensity, our closing down.
“We created a number of opportunities and we were disappointed we weren’t a couple of goals or more up by half time.
“Then in the second half they get that set piece and they score and they get a lift. We had our moments, they had a couple of shots from outside the box that hit the post, [but] they didn’t really create clear cut chances.”
Aloisi said the playing group was really down after the match and angry with themselves for not getting the win. The coach himself had a different view.
“I don’t want them to be angry,” he said. “I want them to be proud. First of all with what they’ve achieved so far putting and at least this performance.
“There’s still a lot of football to be played… We’re going into finals and know we can go away and put in a performance like this and get results.”
The result was soured by an ankle injury to Dylan Pierias. Aloisi said the injury, a second ankle injury to Pierias this season, looked like a bad one.
It came after Steve Lustica was ruled out for three to four weeks with a calf injury he suffered in the game against the Central Coast Mariners.
Aloisi said while it was disappointing for both those guys to be injured it gave chances to other players like, Adisu Bayew, who scored his second goal against the Jets.
He said they were hopeful that Josh Risdon would be back for finals.
United enters the final round of the season on the weekend in third spot.
Melbourne City sits on top, one point clear of Melbourne Victory and United.
Alois said the group was just focusing on the game with Adelaide.
“The boys still know we have to keep on performing like that.”
