THE result was the most important thing against Gold Coast United, but I don’t think we were anywhere near our best.
We’re building some momentum with four wins in a row and that’s important after the position we found ourselves in earlier in the season.
The confidence that comes from winning games is valuable, but as a coach I still see plenty of areas where we can improve.
I think there’s a lot more to come from this group.
We’ve got quality players and a real opportunity in front of us, but we’ll need to produce more consistent performances if we’re going to make the most of it.
Against Gold Coast United, I didn’t think our energy and effort levels were as high as they had been in previous weeks.
We allowed them to stay in the contest longer than they probably should have.
We had opportunities to put the game beyond doubt and didn’t take them, which meant we had to work harder than necessary late in the match.
That said, good teams find ways to win even when they aren’t firing on all cylinders and that’s something this group is starting to demonstrate.
Earlier in the year, when results weren’t going our way, there were questions about our resilience.
Over the past month the players have answered those questions.
I’m pleased to see our attacking players finding form.
Lucas Martins has continued his strong run in front of goal and Fernando Nash was on the scoresheet again.
It’s always good to see strikers getting rewarded for their efforts and building confidence.
Another positive was the contribution from some of our younger players.
We used all five substitutes and there were valuable minutes for several boys who are continuing to develop.
That’s important not just for this season but for the long-term progression of the club.
The downside from the afternoon was the injury to Deegan (Brook).
At this stage it appears to be a jaw injury and we’re hoping it’s not as serious as it first looked.
It’s particularly tough given he was only just returning from concussion, so everyone at the club is hoping for good news.
Now our attention quickly turns to Easts on Wednesday night.
They’re another side that’s progressing well and they’ll provide a tough challenge.
The important thing for us is making sure we turn up and deliver a better performance than we produced on the weekend.
Four wins in a row has put us back in a position where we can start looking up the ladder again, but the hard work is only just beginning.
There’s a real opportunity in front of this group and it’s up to us to make the most of it.
