Adelaide United defender Scott Galloway backs Reds to respond after five-match winless streak

Adelaide United has gone five games without a win and 316 minutes without a goal, while dealing with player and coach uncertainty. But Scott Galloway is refusing to admit defeat in the top-four pursuit as he begins talks to extend his own contract.

Adelaide United captain Isaias Sanchez leads the Reds off the pitch. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

• Kurz confirms meeting to discuss future
• Glory surge further with win over Reds
• Reds can’t go back to training ground

Pointless in two games, winless in five and without a goal in its past 316 minutes of action.

Throw in an enforced training ground shift, as well as ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of its coach, and it had been a month to forget for Adelaide United.

But Reds defender Scott Galloway was refusing to dwell on the setbacks or admit defeat in the club’s pursuit of a top-four finish.

Adelaide United’s Scott Galloway battles for the ball with Perth Glory’s Chris Ikonomidis during the Reds’ A-League loss. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

The off-season recruit also had a message for the club’s loyal supporters, disheartened by Friday night’s lacklustre 2-0 home defeat to A-League leader Perth Glory.

“Obviously everyone is hurting after a loss,” Galloway, 23, said.

“But every team all over the world goes through patches where the results aren’t good, so it’s up to us as players to turn around and change that.

“A lot of fans are still behind, but they will be frustrated with the results because us players and coaches are too.

“As long as they stay behind us, we’re doing all we can to bounce back as strong as we can. We believe in ourselves and we know the quality that we have.”

The Reds lost one of 10 post-Christmas matches to move into pole position for a coveted home final.

But their horror run since, which had produced just two points and two goals, had left them looking over their shoulder as in-form Newcastle Jets closed in on a playoff berth.

Adelaide held high-flying Perth for the opening half-hour at Hindmarsh, only to be undone when Diego Castro’s shot took a wicked deflection off the helpless Galloway for the opener.

Andy Keogh pounced on an uncharacteristic error by United skipper Isaias to seal the misfiring host’s fate 20 minutes from time.

“Leading up to the (first) goal we were fairly solid,” Australian Institute of Sport graduate Galloway said.

“But we just lacked that killer blow upfront and either picked the wrong option or were too slow in moving it.

“We’ll get into some decent positions, but it will be the final pass that will let us down or the final decision. They (Perth) are a good team and their middle three (defenders) are big units.

“But they get a deflected goal out of nowhere and that kind of changes the game.

Scott Galloway was helpless to prevent Perth Glory’s opening goal deflecting in off him during Adelaide United’s Hindmarsh Stadium defeat. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

“We’ve got things that we have to correct and work on, and we’ve got two weeks now to do that.”

Adelaide’s second straight loss came after it had moved Wednesday’s training to Adelaide City’s Oakden ground due to a substandard surface at the Reds’ Playford base.

The underwhelming defeat also followed blunt pre-game comments from coach Marco Kurz claiming he was yet to discuss a new contract as his two-year deal neared its end.

Kurz revealed after the match chairman Piet van der Pol had made contact via text message and the pair would meet this week.

Galloway denied the off-field matters were distractions ahead of next weekend’s international break and a date with cellar-dweller Central Coast Mariners in a fortnight.

“You just have to get on with it,” said Galloway, as United prepared to face three fellow top-six sides in their last five regular season outings.

“All that outside stuff is down to the individual and the club to deal with.

“I’m very confident we can turn things around and build a lot of good momentum heading into finals. If we can beat the teams around us, we can go from finishing fifth or sixth all the way up to fourth. We know it’s in our hands.”

Contract talks underway

SCOTT Galloway has entered discussions about extending his Adelaide United stay after shining in his debut campaign with the Reds.

The left back had been a revelation since joining United, having proven his quality in a 10-day trial last June.

Galloway, one of eight Adelaide players off-contract at season’s end, said his agent had commenced talks with the club’s hierarchy over a new deal.

But halting United’s form slide, rather than resolving his personal future, was his immediate priority.

“For me it’s just about playing well enough to make sure that there is something (a contract offer) there,” said Galloway, a league and FFA Cup ever-present this campaign.

“I just focus on the games and every training session working to improve myself.

Adelaide United left back Scott Galloway had caught the eye in his debut campaign with the Reds. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

“I’m concentrating on game-to-game and all those other things will come along with it.”

Galloway would be a prized re-signing for the Reds following an impressive campaign which had highlighted his defensive nous and attacking prowess in wide positions.

Veteran Michael Marrone last week became the first Adelaide player whose contract was set to expire to recommit for next summer.

Perth-born Galloway said challenging for more silverware remained his teammates’ target on the back of this season’s cup triumph.

“All we’re doing right now is concentrating on getting the results to make sure we’re in the finals,” the former Melbourne Victory, Central Coast and Wellington man said.

“As players, you can’t think about too much and you can’t have too much running through your head.

“You’ve just got to focus on the task at hand.”