Tony Popovic defends under-performing marquee striker Frederico Piovaccari

WANDERERS boss Tony Popovic has defended marquee striker Frederico Piovaccari again after the Italian’s scoring record fell to two goals in 10 games.

Frederico Piovaccari shows his frustration after shooting wide during the Western Sydney Wanderers v Adelaide United A League match at Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta. pic Mark Evans

WANDERERS boss Tony Popovic has again been forced to defend marquee Federico Piovaccari, after his side’s 0-0 draw with Adelaide took the Italian striker’s record to two goals in 10 games.

Western Sydney passed up the chance to go five points clear at the top of the competition - at least for 24 hours - and Piovaccari was one of those guilty of missing chances to breach Adelaide’s determined rearguard.

It was Piovaccari’s second game back after missing a month through a groin injury, and Popovic was adamant that the striker’s increasing fitness will translate into goals once he is “back in a rhythm”.

Piovaccari did manage to put the ball in the net once, only to see referee Ben Williams harshly disallow it for mutual shirt-pulling with defender Dylan McGowan, and Popovic said his forward needed a change of luck.

Federico Piovaccari is surrounded by Adelaide defenders.

“It’ll fall for him – once he gets one goal, it’ll fall and he’ll be back in a rhythm,” Popovic said. “The last two games before he got injured he scored twice – it was a shame he got injured at the time, and has to start again, but I believe he’s come back at a better level physically than he was before the injury. So there are promising signs for him.

“He was better again from last week, he was solid. The goal that was disallowed should have been a goal, they’re both pulling each other and he deserved a goal for that. So it’s disappointing for him but he looked a constant threat throughout the game.

“He looks a lot fitter now, he’s adapting. He’ll only get better. If you watch how he’s playing, his confidence looks good. I thought he did well the week before in his first game after a month out. Against Adelaide he looked always dangerous and he was moving a lot better.”

Wanderers travel to face Melbourne City, the league’s top scorers, next weekend and after his side’s unbeaten run had extended to 10 games – eight of them won - Popovic said he could carry forward “many positives” from the draw with Adelaide, not least an appreciably improving level of fitness among his players.

“That keeps improving week by week,” he said. “Early in the year we tried to press (the opposition) but not as often as we could.

“Another clean sheet shows that although we’re on the front foot and pressing, pushing to get a goal, defensively as a unit we’re doing very well. Not just the back four – we’re determined to give away as little as possible.

“(Staying unbeaten) is pleasing but then you wake up and have to start thinking about But Melbourne City away. They are a very good team, and we can’t rest on our laurels, next week we need another three points from what will be a very tough game.”

Originally published as Tony Popovic defends under-performing marquee striker Frederico Piovaccari