Edwards hopeful despite loss

Perth Glory coach Alistair Edwards remains positive about his side’s chances of claiming a finals spot despite their 2-1 loss to Wellington.

The Glory created the better chances over the course of the 90 minutes at nib Stadium on Sunday, but were undone twice at the back as Jeremy Brockie and Stein Huysegems netted for the visitors.

“Obviously a bit disappointed that we didn’t get the three points today because we would have been in the six,” interim coach Edwards said.

“All the other teams that were vying for the six lost also so it’s still game on.”

Despite missing out on an opportunity to jump to fifth spot on the ladder, Edwards felt that Glory created enough chances to win the game and he wasn’t too downbeat.

“Particularly in the second half I was pleased,” Edwards said.

“We had to get the ball moving quicker and we did that. We’ve started a process so we’re starting to try and play a brand of football and the players are doing it quite well.”

Edwards described the two Phoenix goals as ‘sucker punches’ and wants the team to tighten up in certain areas, particularly at the back.

“I suppose it balances out during the week because we probably didn’t deserve to get the three points last week, probably did deserve it this week,” he said.

At 2-0 down, Ryo Nagai brought Glory back into the game with a headed goal in the 75th minute, and Edwards praised the Japanese import’s recent form.

“He’s been playing really good, he’s exciting to watch,” he said.

“I think he’s getting better and better as the games go by and is an exciting player.

“When I was with the under-20s he scored two goals against us when we played against Japan so I said to him before the game that it’s your turn now to start repaying with some goals for us.”

Glory face Melbourne Victory next weekend, and while Archie Thompson, Marco Rojas and Mark Milligan will be absent due to international duty, Edwards disagreed with the suggestion that it might be a good time to play Ange Postecoglou’s side.

“Victory are a very, very good team, well coached and well drilled so it’s going to be another massive challenge for us,” he said.

“Obviously not having those three players in the team helps a little bit but they’ve got a really good squad and, like I said, are well coached and have some really good young players coming in so it’s going to be a tough one.”