Brisbane Roar swings the axe on Thomas Kristensen

Danish enforcer Thomas Kristensen has been made the scapegoat for Brisbane Roar’s embarrassing loss to Wellington Phoenix and his dumping could open the door for a forgotten midfielder.

Thomas Kristensen has been left out of the Roar squad to play Sydney FC. Picture: AAP

Danish enforcer Thomas Kristensen has been made the scapegoat for Brisbane Roar’s embarrassing 4-1 loss to Wellington Phoenix.

The 35-year-old midfielder has been dropped for the Roar’s clash against Sydney FC on Saturday night.

Kristensen, among a host of under-performing Brisbane players, was not even named in an extended 18-man squad for the match at Jubilee Stadium.

He’s not the first established Roar player to have been axed this season, with defender Jack Hingert having been dumped for Brisbane’s 4-2 home loss to Melbourne Victory on December 14.

Hingert was reinstated for the Roar’s trip to Wellington last weekend, with the wake-up call seeming to have had a positive effect on him.

SEE BELOW: ROAR WOMEN TOP AFTER DRAW

But Kristensen was among Brisbane’s worst performers against the Phoenix, who handed Brisbane their fourth successive defeat.

His dumping could open the door for forgotten 20-year-old midfielder Joe Caletti, who is yet to play this season.

Thomas Kristensen has been dropped by the Roar after last week’s heavy defeat to Wellington. Picture: AAP

Also axed from Brisbane’s squad that lost to Wellington are Shannon Brady and Dylan Wenzel-Halls.

Both had no impact when they came off the bench, with Wenzel-Halls also in the bad books for costing Brisbane a goal when he moved out of the way of a Sarpreet Singh free-kick rather than standing tall in a defensive wall.

Brisbane’s squad has been boosted by the return of Eric Bautheac and Stefan Mauk.

Back from suspension, marquee man Bautheac is out for redemption after letting his teammates down by being needlessly sent off early in the Roar’s loss to the Victory.

Midfielder Mauk is making his latest return from the groin injury that has plagued him this season.

Cautious of rushing him back, coach John Aloisi is likely to use Mauk off the bench.

Joe Caletti is a chance to play his first game this season. Picture: Peter Wallis

Left back Connor O’Toole has been recalled to the extended squad, while there may be an opportunity for young gun Daniel Leck, who scored a hat-trick for Brisbane’s youth team last weekend.

Sydney will be without right back Rhyan Grant, who has left for Asian Cup duties with the Socceroos.

The Sky Blues are yet to win this season at Jubilee Stadium, their “home away from home” while Allianz Stadium is being redeveloped.

Sydney’s Dutch attacker Siem de Jong said his side needed to “prove we can win there as well”.

“It’ll be a good time to start,” de Jong said.

ROAR WOMEN DRAW BUT GO TOP

Brisbane Roar have moved to the top of the W-League table despite having to settle for a 1-1 draw with Canberra United at McKellar Park.

Searching for their third successive win on Thursday night, the Roar could not maintain their scoring exploits of their previous two games, when they scored a combined total of seven goals in beating Melbourne Victory (4-3) and Western Sydney Wanderers (3-1).

But the draw earned Brisbane the point they need to move ahead – at least temporarily – of the Victory and Perth Glory at the top of the ladder.

The Victory and the Glory have the chance to jump the Roar when they meet each other at AAMI Park on Friday.

Natalie Tathem of Brisbane (left) and Olivia Price of Canberra compete for the ball on Thursday night. Picture: AAP

Canberra, whose squad included the returning Ashleigh Sykes, joined sixth-placed Sydney FC on nine points, but are three points outside the top four.

The Roar made a horror start on Thursday night, gifting Canberra the lead in just the third minute.

A poor back pass from Brisbane captain Clare Polkinghorne was pounced on by Canberra striker Rhoda Mulaudzi, who rounded advancing Roar goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, before sliding the ball into the back of the net.

Brisbane equalised in the 38th-minute through in-form forward Allira Toby.

The provider was left back Carson Pickett, whose cross was headed home by Toby, who netted her third goal in three matches.

CANBERRA UNITED WL 1 (Rhoda Mulaudzi 3m) drew BRISBANE ROAR WL 1 (Allira Toby 38m) at McKellar Park. Referee: Katie Patterson.

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