Gertjan Verbeek was critical of Adelaide United’s performance despite recording a 2-1 win against Newcastle Jets, claiming they were lucky to snatch all three points.
Adelaide were again far from their fluent best with the sweltering conditions certainly playing an impact on Sunday.
Newcastle dominated large portions of the game and had a plethora of opportunities to open the scoring at Coopers Stadium
However, Adelaide weathered the Jets’ storm in both halves, thanks to a goalkeeping masterclass from Paul Izzo, and ultimately were more clinical in front of goal to come away with the victory.
George Blackwood converted Al Hassan Toure’s wonderful cutback, but the Jets responded after half-time before James Troisi slotted an 83rd minute winner.
Verbeek, though, bemoaned the team’s display and felt they lacked dynamism and intensity, suggesting the Reds stole the three points when asked to rate the team’s outing.
“If you look at the way we played football, I was not amused,” he told reporters in the post-match press conference.
“It was not good. We’re the reactive team and we want to be active. So the opponent was more on the ball, won more second balls and we were the lucky team.
“It’s a stolen win. Lucky because we scored the first goal out of nothing. It was a beautiful goal and they got a lot of chances.
“The second-half they scored, and then we were lucky again that the chances they got didn’t get in and we have to thank Paul Izzo.
“And the few possibilities we had we made a goal also out of nothing because I already thought it was a draw and I’m satisfied.
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“There was no energy in the team, there wasn’t enough aggressiveness in the team and I think they had a lot of problems with the heat.
“So if you look at the result and how they went on with the circumstances then it’s a bigger number (out of ten).
“But it’s not the way I want to play football, I want to be the boss here in Coopers Stadium and we weren’t and then you need a little bit of luck that we had today.”
Verbeek acknowledged Riley McGree’s absence was noticeable but insisted that cannot be an excuse, especially since the man that replaced him in Blackwood scored.
The Dutchman also explained the three changes he made in the second-half with Nathan Konstandopoulos and Lachlan Brook helping lift the urgency in attack.
“Riley is the type that generates energy in the team,” he said.
“We want to play power football at home and we want to decide when we press the opponent and of course Riley is important in that.
“But the heat can’t be an excuse and that Riley isn’t playing cannot be an excuse.
“Blackwood scored a goal on his position, but it’s another type of player.
“And that’s why I also changed Blackwood because I needed some new energy in the team and I know Nathan (Konstandopoulos) will run, I know (Lachlan) Brook will run.
“And Jordan (Elsey) came in for the headers they had big fellas and the corners were dangerous so I had to do something in the defence.
“That’s not that Mickey (Michael Marrone) was playing bad, but they played a lot of long balls and three fresh players that helped us in the last five, ten minutes I think.”
Adelaide remain in third place on the Hyundai A-League table and have a bye next week before returning to action against Central Coast Mariners.
Adelaide United face Central Coast Mariners in Round 11 of the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 season on Sunday, 22 December at Central Coast Stadium. Kick-off is at 5.30pm ACDT. Live and Exclusive on Fox Sports, Kayo Sports and the My Football Live App.
