New recruit Adam Taggart has heaped praise on his teammates following an entertaining performance in an opening round draw at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Featuring four new additions, including Taggart, the Roar created regular clear-cut opportunities and were unlucky to not open the season with a win on home deck.
In his first game in Brisbane orange, Taggart led a new-look Roar attack, who were at their creative best, stretching the Mariners defence and regularly peppering Ben Kennedy’s net.
READ: Roar duo named in Round 1 Team of the Week
“As a team I thought we played extremely well. The players I had around me like Stefan [Mauk], Tobi [Mikkelsen], Eric [Bautheac] & Alex [Lopez] were all unreal and I thought they all had a great game,” Taggart said on Tuesday morning.
“I’m obviously disappointed not to put a few more chances away, but the main thing I’m disappointed about is we didn’t get the three points.”
“There were a lot of positive signs and we’re looking forward to Sunday.”
Head Coach John Aloisi praised Taggart for the way he reacted following some first-half missed opportunities, as he provided the decisive strike for the home side, minutes after also controversially having a debut goal ruled out.
Brisbane’s new number nine has promised his new supporters that dropping his head is one thing he’ll never do.
“Being a striker, you’re going to misses chances – I’m prepared to miss to score,” Taggart continued.
“You have to put yourself in those positions – that’s my focus each game and something I can guarantee is that I’ll never go hiding. As tough as the game is, if I miss 20 chances, I’ll show up for the 21st and I’ll show up for my teammates.
“I’ll keep working. It [Suncorp Stadium] is a new stadium and a new pitch for me, so it’s something I’m getting used to. The more I play there, the better I’ll get, and once you get into a rhythm of playing and scoring, it just seems to come naturally.
“The main thing is the three points, but I’ll always be looking to improve and I’ll always take responsibility for my own performances.”
Brisbane welcome opening-round victors Wellington Phoenix to Suncorp Stadium this Sunday (4:00pm KO), following our Roar Women’s Westfield W-League season opener against Perth Glory (1:30pm KO).
TICKETS: Two games, one ticket. Be there this Sunday!
BE THERE: BRFC Whole of Club photo
Brisbane head into the clash on the back of a four-game unbeaten streak against the Phoenix.
The two sides most recently met behind-closed-doors on the Gold Coast early in pre-season with a 2-1 win on that day giving the Roar confidence of a similar result on Sunday.
“They [Wellington] have recruited well and have definitely improved on last season. They’ll be a strong side, they’ve got a bit of confidence from the opening game.
“They’ll be better than what they were that day [in pre-season], but we are too. We got the win over them that day and that may play in the back of their minds.”
“We’re at home again, the fans were amazing on the weekend, so I’m sure it’ll be tough for them to come here and play. We’ll be attacking like we did on the weekend and hopefully come away with three points.”
