“They give everything for the badge”: Davies lavishes praise on Roar after gutsy performance
It’s safe to say that Brisbane Roar have endured the season from hell but their last-gasp 2-1 win over Sydney FC proves there’s still fight left according to interim coach Darren Davies.
Dylan Wenzel-Halls struck in the 90th minute after Tobias Mikkelsen had clawed one back for the Roar, cancelling out Danny De Silva’s opener.
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A week after their disastrous 4-3 loss to Adelaide United, Davies said the commitment of his side was there for all to see.
“To a man, outstanding and no one can ever question what that group will give,” Davies said post-match.
“They took the lead and we showed tremendous character to come back, I thought the first half they had the better of the chances, we had more chances.
“Then second half [Milos] Ninkovic, De Silva were causing us a few problems...to come back then from 1-nil down, the players we have on the pitch they’re running out of puff and they just kept on coming forward, they gave everything.
“They give everything for the club, they give everything for the badge, for themselves and last week I was gutted for the fans but this week I’m over the moon for them.”
With regular goalkeeper Jamie Young suspended as well as regulars Daniel Bowles, Dane Ingham missing plus Luke DeVere and Jack Hingert withdrawing early on, the Roar’s stocks were low to say the least.
Skipper Matt McKay was forced to move into a part-time back four and up against a rampant attack, the writing appeared on the wall.
“I used the word madness last week so I don’t know how to sum that one up this week,” Davies said.
“I don’t know that it was the gutsiest ever performance from a Roar side, I mean there’s been some tremendous occasions here but certainly in my time here that playing group have been through a lot and their backs were against the wall tonight, people were out, makeshift back four, number two in goal.
“We were challenged through the week and people were asking questions of us and tonight, to a man, they answered those questions.”
Sydney coach Steve Corica meanwhile was frustrated his side had thrown points away in their quest for the premiership but insisted there was still plenty left to play for despite sitting in third.
“Very disappointed, we came here to get three points,” Corica said.
“We started the game the game very well the first half was very good, we played with the ball, defensively very strong. The only thing we didn’t do in the first half was score more goals.
“We’re definitely not going to give up, at the moment we’re still five points behind Perth and even if they win the game on Sunday we’ll keep going because there’s eight games to go.”
