Perth Glory's struggles in front of goal have become a worrying pattern, with coach Adam Griffiths left to rue a second consecutive 1-0 defeat that mirrored the side's profligacy from the week before.
Deja Vu Strikes Again at HBF Park
The Glory's Saturday night clash with Adelaide United at HBF Park followed a painfully familiar script. Just as they did against Sydney FC the previous week, Glory conceded an early goal, weathered a storm, and then dominated possession and territory in the second half without finding the back of the net.
Centre-back Brian Kaltak missed a golden opportunity late in the match, summing up the team's current fortunes. Coach Adam Griffiths described the feeling as "deja vu" and stressed the urgent need for a solution as his team prepares for a challenging road trip to face Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory starting this Sunday.
Griffiths Calls for Composure and Quality
"It's just not happening in that final third," Griffiths stated bluntly after the match. "We have to regroup, look at how we improve and keep pushing towards improving in that area."
He emphasised that converting even one of those big chances could completely shift the momentum of a game. "We get a goal like that, and all of a sudden momentum shifts... But at the moment, that's not falling for us."
The coach pointed to the need for players to step up and seize their moments, while also managing the growing frustration within the squad. "Frustration doesn't help anyone," he noted, acknowledging the mental challenge of the current goal drought.
Injury List Grows as Taggart's Return Looms
The primary hope for a turnaround in attacking output rests on the potential return of captain Adam Taggart from injury. Griffiths is optimistic Taggart could feature in the upcoming Melbourne fixtures, which would provide a major boost.
However, the injury news is mixed. While Rhys Bozinovski's pre-game groin issue is not considered serious, Griffiths confirmed he does not expect Sebastian Despotovski or Jaiden Kucharski to be available soon. Winger Lachie Wales is targeting a mid-January comeback.
In a positive development for fans, former favourite Stefan Colakovski has been training with the club for three months during his recovery from a torn ACL and is expected to sign officially in January.
The goalkeeper situation has also seen a development, with Matt Sutton likely to have his injury-cover contract extended due to Cameron Cook's ongoing knee problem.
Looking Ahead to the Melbourne Challenge
Despite the current frustrations, Griffiths is choosing to focus on the opportunity presented by the next two matches. "The next two games are going to be big challenges for us, but also games that we will be pushing to win," he said.
He indicated that major squad changes are unlikely in the January transfer window, emphasising a need to build and grow with the current group. "We've got a big enough squad to be honest," Griffiths said, signalling his belief that the answers must come from within.
For Perth Glory, the mission is clear: find a way to turn possession and pressure into goals, starting with their crucial double-header in Victoria.
