Postecoglou relieved as Brisbane roar back

A relieved Ange Postecoglou was delighted his Brisbane Roar side welcomed in 2012 as winners.

The Roar fell behind early in their A-League clash with Melbourne Victory when Harry Kewell scored from distance, before building into the form that has eluded them through a five-game losing run to win 3-1.

Young guns Mitch Nichols and Ivan Franjic broke from disparate form for the reigning A-League premiers, joining Ricky Visconte on the scoresheet. Postecoglou praised both and revealed his relief at breaking the drought.

“It’s great to win. You feel good about that and it’s great to see smiles on some people’s faces. It’s been a tough little grind this one,” Postecoglou said.

“It’s a good way to end the year because it’s been a great year for us. It would have left a bit of a bitter taste if we didn’t see out the year as winners, as we have been all year.”

“We played some good football, we scored goals, and that’s the kind of team we want to be.”

The Roar mastermind and reigning A-League coach of the year had employed an attacking 3-4-3 formation, pushing back-four regulars Ivan Franjic and Shane Stefanutto into the midfield.

Both excelled. Franjic finished with man-of-the-match honours, befitting his hearty all-ends performance.

Postecoglou said that he had implored several of his out-of-form players to improve, and Franjic ended as the posterboy for the Roar’s return to form.

“We adjusted things a little bit, but the key thing was we didn’t change the way we played. We still knocked it around, we kept position and we were a lot more threatening tonight than we have been over the last few weeks. The boys are determined to get it right,” Postecoglou said.

“Ivan was immense; he really got in behind them … we really looked a more threatening team tonight and that was a big factor.”

“He was really good tonight. We changed his role a little bit and told him to take the game to the opposition.”

Roar captain Matt Smith thought the win would help the side begin 2012 on the right note.

“We’ll be at the pool session (Sunday) smiling as opposed to heads down, so it’ll be good for the players,” he said.