Western United’s A-League premiership bid ruined by back-to-back defeats

Having been in A-League premiership contention two weeks ago, Western United’s top-two hopes have dipped after successive losses.

With their A-League premiership hopes in tatters after successive away defeats, Western United’s focus has switched to cementing a finals berth.

Two weeks ago, United were well in contention for the Premier’s Plate, and at the very least a second-placed finish, which might have been enough to secure an AFC Champions League Elite spot next season due to current leaders Auckland FC’s ineligibility to compete in that competition because of New Zealand being part of the Oceania Football Confederation.

However, following last Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers and Thursday night’s shock 2-1 defeat in Brisbane at the hands of a struggling Roar outfit, United could fall to as low as fifth by the end of Saturday night’s two games – Melbourne Victory versus Auckland, and the Wanderers’ battle with Melbourne City.

Western United’s Noah Botic (left) chases Brisbane skipper Jay O'Shea in the Roar’s 2-1 win on Thursday night. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

“I don’t know if we’ll be able to get a top-two spot, but we’ll do our best,” United coach John Aloisi said after his side’s “poor” performance against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

“We don’t want to look too far ahead. We just want to look over the next couple of weeks and make sure that we’re physically in good shape (ahead of the finals series).”

United close their regular season with tough home matches against Sydney FC and Auckland.

“They’re really good games for us at home at Ironbark Fields. Our players love playing there,” said Aloisi, who added that his team “didn’t deserve anything” from its performance on Thursday night.

“We were poor. Along with the Melbourne Victory game (a 3-1 loss in December), they were our two poorest performances.

“We didn’t create enough, it was a really stop-start game. Most of our games are good to watch, but this was just stop-start.

“I felt the officiating could have made that a little bit quicker and better, and made it so it was flowing a little bit more, but it is what it is.”