Melbourne City confident it can contend for A League title despite loss to Western Sydney Wanderers

WITH its defensive frailties laid bare in Friday night's 4-3 loss to Western Sydney, Melbourne City's Michael Zullo says his side knows what to do to improve.

Mark Bridge scores his second goal for the Wanderers during the Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City match at Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta. Pic Mark Evans

WITH its defensive frailties laid bare in Friday night's epic 4-3 loss to Western Sydney, Melbourne City's Michael Zullo says his side clearly knows what it needs to do to improve.

But the fullback insists the team's unshakable belief that it can be a contender this season had not been dented, as its valiant late fightback proved that it is never out of the game.

Having only defeated Wellington at home on Monday, Zullo said the impact of a short turnaround may have had some baring on the performance — at least it did for him personally, he said, not being long back from injury. But the 27-year-old said that was no excuse against a Wanderers side that he labelled as "the best unit" in the competition at the moment.

An Achilles injury to captain Patrick Kisnorbo in the third minute did not help either, especially with fellow central defender Aaron Hughes out with "general soreness".

But the goals City conceded were all of their own making, Zullo said. And with time to develop better cohesion — City still has not played a game with its likely starting XI — Zullo is confident improvement will come.

“The four goals were pretty much carbon copies of each other,” Zullo said. “So we know what we've got to improve upon.

“It was a disappointing night in many respects. We were happy with the way we fought back, that was a good show of character, but it was too late.

“For all the effort going forward, we gave the game away at the back.”

A season-threatening Achilles tear has been ruled out for Kisnorbo, but further scans in the next 48 hours will determine the extent of his injury. Hughes, who travelled to Sydney, should be fit for Sunday's trip to Newcastle.

City was three goals down before Harry Novillo and Bruno Fornaroli scored within a minute to give the team hope, while Erik Paartalu's injury time goal had the Pirtek Stadium crowd on edge right until the final whistle.

“We've got such high quality in attack, we can score three goals in five minutes out of nothing,” Zullo said.

“It's something we're all aware of and it gives us a lot of belief knowing we've got those guys up top.

“Now it's about improving those standards at the back and tightening up the ship a bit.

“If we keep playing the way we have been then hopefully we're going to get another opportunity to go top.”

Originally published as Melbourne City confident it can contend for A League title despite loss to Western Sydney Wanderers