'A lapse in concentration' - Jamieson says City must find consistency
Melbourne City skipper Scott Jamieson says his side know they must find consistency following their narrow defeat to Wellington Phoenix in Auckland if they are to be a Finals Series threat.
In a game of fine margins, the second-placed City were pipped 1-0 by the hosts at Eden Park courtesy of a 58th minute strike from David Ball as the visitors were caught in transition after committing numbers forward.
Despite sitting high on the table throughout the Hyundai A-League season, Erick Mombaerts’ side’s top form has proved elusive – the latest result means City have not strung consecutive wins together in the Hyundai A-League since early November.
Speaking post-match to Sky Sport, Jamieson said a lapse in concentration ultimately cost his side the points to fall further off the pace in the hunt for league leaders Sydney FC.
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“They punished us with one turnover and then they go up the other end and score,” Jamieson explained.
“Full credit to them, they got the points, but we are very disappointed because I thought first half we were brilliant.
“We really played out the game plan, but then in the second half we just made a lapse in concentration.”
Despite seeing a Phoenix goal rubbed out by VAR in the first half, City proved the greater threat for most of the contest – racking up seven shots on target throughout the 90 minutes.
However, Jamieson felt compelled to praise a typically efficient performance from Stefan Marinovic in the ‘Nix goal as he foiled the visitors time and time again.
“Credit to Marinovic too. He was fantastic tonight. He’s been fantastic all year and it takes something special to beat him and we haven’t tonight.”
However, ultimately, Jamieson said he feels his side must eliminate their at times enigmatic results if they are to turn their potential into a genuine silverware push later in the season.
“[It’s] inconsistent from us again. So it’s just something we need to try and fix,” he explained.
“Is it something we need to do different? I don’t know, but at the moment we are too inconsistent.
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He added: “I wouldn’t say it’s a tough start to the year, we are sitting second, so we are still going well but in that we have been inconsistent.
“We need to get a good run and hopefully that comes going into the Finals and in the Finals we make a good play at it,” he concluded.
In contrast, Fox Sports pundit and former Socceroos legend Mark Bosnich said he feels City were unlucky to at least take a point from the match.
“It was a really hard fought game and on another day they would’ve gotten a point out of it, so they shouldn’t be too down.
City will have time to apply the lessons learned from their trip across the Tasman with a bye next weekend before returning to Hyundai A-League action in Round 21 at home to Brisbane Roar.
Round 21
Melbourne City vs Brisbane Roar
Sunday, 1 March
AAMI PARK
Kick-off: 6.30pm AEDT
