Bruno Fornaroli’s omission, lacklustre Melbourne City performance puts heat on Warren Joyce

Melbourne City’s record goalscorer Bruno Fornaroli was sensationally axed by coach Warren Joyce for Saturday’s clash with Brisbane, and the heat is now on the second-year manager.

Bruno Fornaroli celebrates a goal for Melbourne City.

Melbourne City’s record goalscorer Bruno Fornaroli was sensationally axed by coach Warren Joyce, who’s put himself on a collision course with superstar striker.

“Fitness concerns” were believed to be behind the omission despite Fornaroli, who’s played every game this season, completing all sessions since their win over Wellington a fortnight ago when he opened his season account with a stunner.

A 2-0 City loss at Brisbane Roar will compound pressure on Joyce, who refused to elaborate on why he left the marquee player out of the squad for the visit to Suncorp Stadium.

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“Just tried to pick a team to win the game,’’ Joyce told Fox Sports.

“Just, we picked a team to try and win the game tonight, and I thought we played some good football.

“Disappointed. A lack of concentration really gifts them a goal.”

Bruno Fornaroli celebrates a goal for Melbourne City.

Tim Cahill, Luke Brattan, Fernando Brandan, Neil Kilkenny and Bruce Kamau are among the big players Joyce has dropped in his 14 months in charge, but Saturday night was the biggest of the lot.

Fornaroli’s shock omission sent shockwaves through the A-League and the City squad, if the performance was any indication.

However, Scott Jamieson, who replaced Fornaroli as captain this season, wasn’t buying into it.

“Players miss out. There’s no issue there. We did miss Bruno as a key player, but we have a good squad and it’s just a selection,’’ he said.

The Phoenix goal was meant to be the turning point for the Uruguayan, who’s been frustrated and isolated in large parts this season.

Joyce rarely changes a winning team, but his decision to leave the superstar out entirely poses some intriguing questions at a club that has struggled to break into the top echelon of A-League clubs – though not from a lack of investment from City Football Group.

Melbourne City manager Warren Joyce.

Without a recognised striker, City looked disjointed and lacklustre as Brisbane cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win at Suncorp Stadium via an Adam Taggart brace.

Ex-City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen told Fox Sports that Joyce had taken a huge risk.

“It’s a huge gamble – they played ever so well, probably their best game of the season against Wellington, so you’d expect an unchanged side,’’ Sorensen said.

“What’s come out of the camp is that he’s not injured, there’s something that’s going on, some fitness numbers that haven’t been right and he’s left him out.

“To me it’s a huge gamble. He’s one of the best players in the league, he’s certainly one of the best players at Melbourne City.

“As a manager, he’s trying to send a signal to the rest of the squad, but it could also easily backfire. He’s in a high standing among the other players, he’s the goalscorer and he’s not there – he’s fit and he’s at home on the sofa watching his game.”

Lachy Wales is tackled by Brisbane defender Avram Papadopoulos.

And the heat will be on. Minus Fornaroli, City struggled to manufacture chances as overlapping full-back Ritchie de Laet had City’s best chance of the first half.

Joyce’s half-time rocket ignited a reaction, as makeshift striker Lachy Wales struck the upright within two minutes of the restart.

But City was already on the back foot, as Taggart headed Brisbane into the lead with a bullet header from Eric Bautheac’s cross from a short corner.

Taggart found space far too easily midway through the second half and smashed home a second, after a great Roar build-up.

Brattan, who was recalled by Joyce after his shock omission, made way as City went on the attack with teen Ramy Najjarine handed a debut but they never looked like troubling the scorers.

City host Newcastle Jets on Sunday, in a game that now takes on great significance.