Gülüm confident Reds will bounce back

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Ersan Gülüm admitted the extreme humidity proved stifling in their 1-0 defeat to Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

The Australian-born Turkish international felt the difficult conditions contributed in the end-to-end nature of the game.

Eric Bautheac scored the solitary goal of the clash thanks to a stunning free-kick in the 41st minute for the hosts.

However, despite Adelaide adapting better to the humidity in the second stanza, the Reds could not produce an equaliser.

“It’s not easy playing in this weather,” Gülüm told Fox Sports after the match.

“Obviously you saw both teams, it was just one end to another – there was no transition through the middle.

“Unfortunately we copped a free-kick goal again but we worked hard and worked to our strengths.

“Full credit to Brisbane they closed us down really well, we tried to play out from the back as a team and once we do play well out the back we can attack.

“But they closed us down really well today.”

Following back-to-back losses for the first time since Round 6, the Reds could see their three point lead over the sixth-placed Western Sydney disappear with a Wanderers win on Sunday afternoon.

Gülüm said the key was to regroup with a bye next week, before finishing the season strongly – starting with a three-match home set.

“I think internally as a Club and individually as players our goal was to be in the top six to at least play finals,” he said.

“And we’re at that stage at the moment but obviously we have five games to play and they’re games that we can win.

“We just have to work on our strengths again and we have a bye so we can rest up again and go forward two weeks’ later.”

Adelaide United host Melbourne City in Round 23 of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season on Friday, 16 March at Coopers Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.20pm ACDT.

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