Brisbane Roar will take an extra spring in its step to Melbourne this weekend, but won’t be taking the task of facing a “dangerous” Melbourne Heart outfit lightly according to vice-captain Shane Stefanutto.
Brisbane Roar will take an extra spring in its step to Melbourne this weekend, but won-t be taking the task of facing a “dangerous” Melbourne Heart outfit lightly according to vice-captain Shane Stefanutto.
The Roar left-back has been one of the club-s most consistent players this season, belying his veteran status with some typically industrious performances down the left flank.
While back-to-back wins have lifted spirits in the change room, Stefanutto said it was time for the squad as a whole to string together some collective consistency to build on back-to-back wins.
“We-ve let ourselves down with consistency this season and we know that,” Stefanutto said.
“We did enough to win the game and that-s what we had to do.
“It-s a tight league and I think that-s one of the best things of this league.
“There-s a lot of teams around us and if you don-t keep performing you-ll soon be down the bottom again.
“So we have to keep going the way we-re going.”
If the squad needed any extra incentive, Sunday provides the opportunity for a small measure of redemption for the 4-1 loss Heart handed the Roar in week 6.
That result remains one of only two matches this season Brisbane has conceded more than one goal and the only game Brisbane has lost by a margin of more than one goal.
Stefanutto said the players hadn-t thought too much about the result since, but did say at the time it stung the squad.
“All of us down there, I think it was probably one of our worst performance of the season where they hit all those goals past us in that 12 minute period,” he said.
“They are a dangerous team if you let them get on a roll like that, so we-ve got to be on our game.
“It was disappointing to concede that many goals, it was disappointing the way we played that day.
“We-ve got a chance now to redeem ourselves and we-re looking forward to the game.”
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Melbourne Heart FC v Brisbane Roar
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 4:00pm AEDT
Referee: Alan Milliner
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Brennan
Assistant Referee 2: George Lakrindis
Fourth Official: Shaun Evans
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1HD and Sky Sports 3.
ABC Radio Coverage – Updates into Grandstand cricket coverage
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #MHvROAR
Melbourne Heart Squad: 1.Clint Bolton (Gk), 2.Michael Marrone, 4.Simon Colosimo, 5.Fred (c), 8.Matthew Thompson, 9.Dylan Macallister, 10.Josip Tadic, 11.Richard Garcia, 13.Jonatan Germano,14.Golgol Mebrahtu,15.David Williams, 16.Aziz Behich, 17.Jason Hoffman,18.David Vrankovic, 20.Andrew Redmayne (GK), 21.Steven Gray, 22.Nick Kalmar, 24.Sam Mitchinson, 25.Jeremy Walker, 26.Ersin Kaya *five to be omitted
Ins: 21.Steven Gray, 22.Nick Kalmar, 24.Sam Mitchinson, 25.Jeremy Walker, 26.Ersin Kaya
Outs: nil
Unavailable: 23.Mate Dugandzic (broken foot – season)
Brisbane Roar Squad: 1. Michael Theo (GK), 2. Matt Smith (capt), 3. Shane Stefanutto, 4. Matt Jurman, 5. Ivan Franjic, 6. Erik Paartalu, 7. Besart Berisha, 8. Massimo Murdocca, 10. Henrique, 11. Ben Halloran, 17. Mitch Nichols, 20. Matt Acton (GK), 21. James Meyer, 22. Thomas Broich, 24. Nick Fitzgerald.
In: 21.James Meyer (promoted)
Out: 15. James Donachie (suspended – one week)
Unavailable: Jack Hingert (hip injury – 4-6 weeks), Do Dong-Hyun (knee – 2-3 weeks), Luke Brattan (ankle – 1-2 weeks)
