Adelaide United coach Carl Veart vows the Reds won’t change their style despite having a poor defensive record

Adelaide United want to make the most of the ‘great opportunity’ to beat A-League’s last-placed team on Saturday.

Adelaide United coach Carl Veart would be happy for the Reds to concede four goals for the second week in succession, provided they scored five against A-League cellar dwellers Brisbane Roar at Coopers Stadium on Saturday.

Despite still being in the premiership race, Adelaide’s defensive record is among the worst in the competition.

The Reds have conceded 34 goals in 18 matches. Only wooden spoon candidates Brisbane (36) and Perth (45) have leaked more.

“We don’t want to concede as many goals as we do, but we’re not going to change the way we play,” a defiant Veart said on Friday.

“We want to be an attacking team that scores goals. Sometimes that leaves us a little vulnerable at the back.

“I’m happy to take that risk as long as we score more than the opposition.”

Some special inclusions in this week's squad 🏆

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— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) March 6, 2025

Which is what Reds failed to do in last Saturday’s 4-4 draw with first-placed Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium.

“Our performances haven’t been poor, but our intensity hasn’t been consistent,” Veart said.

“It’s about maintaining our energy levels and being sharper in key moments.”

Set to help rectify Adelaide’s defensive issues on Saturday will be returning pair Panagiotis Kikianis and James Delianov.

Centre-back Kikianis is back from the Young Socceroos’ successful AFC Under-20 Asian Cup campaign, while goalkeeper Delianov – having warmed the bench in recent weeks on his return from injury – will finally be reinstated at the expense of Ethan Cox, who has cost Adelaide too many goals.

“(Kikianis) is an integral part of our team. Even though he’s young, he brings a calmness and passing ability that suits the way we want to play,” Veart said.

“James has had two full weeks of training and is our number one goalkeeper, so he’ll come back into the team. We just needed to make sure he was fully ready.

“’Coxy’ is a young goalkeeper, and this run of games was a great learning experience for him. He knows what areas he needs to work on.”

Lucas Herrington reflects on his #AFCU20 Asian Cup triumph with the Young Socceroos and looks ahead to Saturday's action against Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium 🗣

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— Brisbane Roar FC (@brisbaneroar) March 7, 2025

Veart urged his team not to waste a “great opportunity to build momentum” with a win over the A-League’s worst team.

“We need to make sure our intensity is there from the start, just like it was after the first 20 minutes against Auckland last week,” he said.

“We had a little dip in form where we dropped off the pace. Some games we were five or 10 per cent below where we needed to be, and that made a difference.”

The Roar will be without former Reds winger Ben Halloran and French playmaker Florin Berenguer, who both elected not to travel to Adelaide to instead stay home with their families to safeguard against Cyclone Alfred.