Angus Thurgate proving to be the key to Western United’s impressive form

A major reason for Western United’s move up the A-League ladder has been the form of midfielder Angus Thurgate.

Western United coach John Aloisi has hailed the “old school” qualities of midfielder Angus Thurgate, whose career-best form continues to inspire the A-League club.

Thurgate was superb in United’s 4-0 weekend thrashing of the previously unbeaten Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium.

It was United’s second successive away scalp after beating Sydney FC 4-3 at Allianz Stadium on the previous Saturday.

Aloisi’s men have jumped into the top six, and have a golden chance to secure a hat-trick of wins when they host the competition’s worst team, Brisbane Roar, at Ironbark Fields on Sunday.

“We just want to keep growing as a football club,” Aloisi said/

“We want to play our football and our way.”

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It’s a “way” that has been embraced by Thurgate, whose non-stop work in the midfield has been superb

“Angus Thurgate has gone to another level for us this season,” Aloisi said.

“He’s been our best player. With the ball he’s positive, he goes forward .. and then he’s back defending in his own box.

“He’s that real old school box-to-box player which are becoming more prominent now in football.”

And Aloisi warned that there was further improvement in Thurgate, who despite having already made 152 appearances in an A-League career that started at Newcastle, doesn’t turn 25 until February next year.

“There’s so much more upside to Angus,” United’s coach said.

“He’s still only 24, he leads by example, and he’s relished being one of our more experienced players.

“I expect him to keep going. He’s been our most consistent and best player so far (this season).”

Aloisi said confidence was high in United’s camp.

“We’ve been effective most of the season,” he said.

“The game that we probably weren’t effective was the game against Melbourne Victory (a 3-1 loss om December 1), and I let the boys know about that, and they responded really well after that game.”

Originally published as Angus Thurgate proving to be the key to Western United’s impressive form