New Roar coach Nick Green guides Brisbane to victory in his first game in charge

A change of coach has paid immediate dividends for A-League battlers Brisbane Roar.

Brisbane Roar players celebrate their win over Perth Glory. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Interim coach Nick Green has tasted success in his first game in charge of Brisbane, with the Roar fighting back from a goal down to beat Perth Glory 2-1 at Kayo Stadium on Sunday.

Given the job for the rest of the season following last Monday’s sacking of Warren Moon, Green was able to garner an immediate response from a team that had not won in seven previous matches.

The Glory went ahead in the 19th minute through fullback Jack Clishy, but the Roar hit back with goals from skipper Tom Aldred and former Perth youth team captain Henry Hore to lead 2-1 at half-time.

It was an advantage the hosts – who were without injured quartet Jay O’Shea, Robbie Kruse, Stefan Scepovic and Scott Neville – held on to in a second half that included several minutes of stoppage time after Perth Glory defender Darryl Lachman was taken from the field in an ambulance after a clash of heads with Hore.

Glory defender Darryl Lachman receives medical attention following his clash of heads with Brisbane’s Henry Hore. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Aldred said the victory was the club’s “biggest win” since he joined the Roar in 2019.

“With a change of manager during the week, and we’d been so long without a win ... it was a huge effort from the boys,” Aldred told Paramount +.

“It wasn’t pretty at times but that’s what happens when you go so long without a win.”

For the Glory, the loss came after a tumultuous week in which Professional Footballers Australia investigated allegations that Perth coach Ruben Zadkovich punched midfielder Giordano Colli at training.

Colli was among the substitutes on Sunday and entered proceedings in the 79th minute.

Zadkovich said he was “focused on the bigger pictures” in denying that the allegations had affected him.

“There’s always going to be distractions, there’s always going to be outside noise, but (for) the guys, it’s not through a lack of effort today that they didn’t win, it’s not through a lack of togetherness, it was through a lack of quality and moments,” he said.

In good news for the Glory, Lachman was cleared of a serious injury after having a CAT scan on Sunday night.

The Glory confirmed that Lachman received five stitches in his forehead, left hospital and would fly back to Perth on Monday.

Originally published as New Roar coach Nick Green guides Brisbane to victory in his first game in charge