April 11, 2015 09:58:48 UK
Coach Kevin Muscat blamed missed chances for causing Melbourne Victory’s shock 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle Jets.
The A-League leaders had 14 shots on goal to the visitors’ seven, and Victory keeper Lawrence Thomas didn’t have a save to make in the 90 minutes.
But their dominance counted for nothing as they succumbed to Edson Montano’s 54th-minute goal and lost a chance to take a firm grip on top spot.
At these times we’ve got to look at yourself and not look for excuses.
Kevin Muscat
Muscat, though, isn’t looking for excuses for the defeat and took no comfort in suggestions that it was a result that would shake them up in a positive way.
“I hear people say that it’s a loss we needed to have,” said the second-year coach. “I don’t buy into it; no excuses, I’d have much rather won tonight than have ‘the loss we needed’.”
Muscat added: “When we take stock here, we’ve created a number of chances. We didn’t take one of those chances tonight and it hasn’t happened often this season.”
Despite being unable to see off a Jets side who had only won three of their 24 previous games this season, the Victory coach feels his team are still in a strong position as they have a game in hand over their premiership rivals.
They now have to go to Queensland to face Brisbane Roar twice in the space of four days next week.
As well as their scheduled Saturday date with the defending champions at Suncorp Stadium, they will play them on Wednesday in a rescheduled round 18 fixture that was postponed in February due to a waterlogged pitch.
Melbourne Victory are 2.20 to beat Brisbane in Wednesday’s match, with the Roar 2.90 and the draw 3.40.
“At these times we’ve got to look at yourself and not look for excuses,” said Muscat. “We’re still in a very, very good position but we’re going to have to be better.”
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