Ben Garuccio lamented Adelaide United’s lacklustre display following a 1-0 loss to Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
The Reds conceded a goal from a free-kick for the third straight week after Eric Bautheac expertly curled his dead ball effort up and over the wall.
The Frenchman’s 41st minute strike proved decisive with Garuccio unable to determine the reason behind Adelaide’s slow start.
“I think it was probably one of our worst games of the year to be honest,” he said.
Next three games at home. @GlmErsan confident we will bounce back. #AUFC
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— Adelaide United FC (@AdelaideUnited) March 4, 2018
“We weren’t there in the first-half and it just felt that we were a few steps behind them the whole way.
“It was disappointing again to concede a free-kick around the box and concede a goal from a free-kick again – three in a row now.
“They’re sometimes the small things that can define a match and unfortunately we weren’t able to peg that goal back.”
Garuccio felt the Reds needed to fashion more genuine opportunities than they managed on the night if they were to garner a positive result.
“We had a few chances but not as many as we would have liked and not as many as we’ve had in most of our games this year,” he said.
“I think if you’re only creating two or three really big chances, and I don’t think we even did that.
“I remember Nikola’s (Mileusnic) chance was a good one but apart from that I don’t remember too many clear-cut chances and you need more than one clear-cut chance a game.
“I don’t think we created enough good opportunities.”
Hear from Marco post match in Brisbane. #BRIvADL pic.twitter.com/Pn104f4vbF
— Adelaide United FC (@AdelaideUnited) March 3, 2018
But despite a second successive defeat, Garuccio said the Reds have not dropped their heads and are focused on turning things around in two weeks’ time.
Adelaide have a bye this coming weekend before playing three consecutive Friday night home matches.
“The bright side is that there’s five games to go and we have a week off,” he said.
“We regroup, we go back to training, work on the things we need to work on and then we’ve got three games at home so that’s a massive positive for us.
“It starts with (Melbourne) City and it’s a big game and they’re someone that’s close to us on the ladder.
“So if we beat them we put ourselves right back up there and amongst that top three, four again.
“That’s the main goal for us and we’re focusing on finals and each game now is very important for us.”
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.
