Sky Blues winger Joe Lolley urged to rediscover his goalscoring boots as Sydney targets top-two berth

Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay wants more from Englishman Joe Lolley to give the Sky Blues the best chance of moving up the A-League ladder.

Sydney FC star Joe Lolley is searching for goals. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay has challenged English winger Joe Lolley to score more goals as the ambitious Sky Blues target a top-two finish on the A-League ladder.

With six games of their regular season campaign remaining, the Sydneysiders are nine points adrift of the second-placed Central Coast Mariners, whom they meet at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

Depending on other results this weekend, the fifth-placed Sly Blues could fall out of the top six if they lose to the in-form Mariners.

However, Talay is confident his side will instead move up the ladder and has targeted 18 points from Sydney’s remaining six matches to make a genuine push for a top-two spot heading into the finals series.

“We want to get maximum points,” Talay said. “We want to win every game possible and put ourselves in a great position leading into finals football.”

Former Nottingham Forest star Lolley, who is crucial to Sydney’s title hopes, echoed Talay’s sentiments.

“I think we can get into the top two,” the 31-year-old attacker said. “If we want to do that we are going to have to win every game until the end of the season, but I think we are capable of doing that.”

Joe Lolley hasn’t scored since January. Picture: Izhar Khan/Getty Images)

Talay has been happy with Lolley’s form but wants more from him.

“Joe’s been fantastic for us, but we probably want more goals from Joe,” the Sydney coach said.

“He’s probably slowed down the last few weeks. Hopefully, he breaks that streak and scores a goal this weekend for us.”

The most recent of Lolley’s eight goals this season came in his side’s 4-1 win over Newcastle on January 19. It’s an eight-match barren spell he’s desperate to end.

“The last four or five weeks I haven’t quite got the goals and assists to go with everything, which has been frustrating,” he said.

“Personally, I feel like I have contributed a lot and worked hard, and for sure it is one of my better individual seasons, but that means nothing if we don’t go on and win something as a team and keep that form up right into the end of the season.”

Seventh-placed Melbourne City can at least temporarily move ahead of Sydney by beating Newcastle in Saturday’s early match at AAMI Park.

After a five-match run without a win, City has won back-to-back games, including a 7-0 last-start thrashing of the Western Sydney Wanderers.

On Sunday, the high-flying Wellington Phoenix hosts Brisbane Roar, and Melbourne Victory meets Perth Glory at AAMI Park.

There is also an Easter Monday clash, with Macarthur FC hosting the Wanderers at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

Originally published as Sky Blues winger Joe Lolley urged to rediscover his goalscoring boots as Sydney targets top-two berth