Adelaide United coach Carl Veart unleashes on referee

Adelaide United coach Carl Veart has unleashed on the A-League after his side was embarrassed by Sydney FC at Coopers Stadium on Saturday.

Jordan Elsey (R) was given marching orders on Saturday night. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Adelaide United coach Carl Veart has taken aim at SA referee Daniel Elder, claiming big matches deserve “top referees” before the Reds host Western Sydney in its final league clash on Thursday night.

Veart was disappointed with Elder’s performance after the side’s dream of a second-place finish ended bitterly with a 4-1 loss to Sydney on Saturday.

Elder is South Australia’s only A-League referee this season.

He was also appointed referee in the Reds 1-1 draw with Wanderers at home where Louis D’Arrigo was expelled in April before Jordan Elsey was sent off against Sydney at the weekend.

“You’d think that in a game of such importance, we would have got one of the top referees,’’ Veart said.

“But we get a South Australian referee that shows everyone he doesn’t want to be South Australian and goes harder against Adelaide United.

“He did it last time when we had him and he did it again.

“It’s not at the standard that it needs to be at the crucial part (of the season).”

Sydney FC embarrassed Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Adelaide needs to beat Wanderers to help stave off an anxious weekend in a bid to cement a finals berth.

With a minus two-goal difference and 38 points, Adelaide is six points behind Sydney.

Veart will need to replace the suspended Elsey for the Wanderers clash which has added more heartache to Adelaide’s season-long battle against injuries.

Long-serving Red Michael Marrone, who is out of contract, could fill the void at centre back while left-sided stopper George Timotheou, who is believed to be close to fulfilling a play-time fiscal bonus, appears to be another obvious choice for Veart to ponder.

Veart must also keep an eye on the future squad with imports Javi Lopez, Juande and Michael Jakobsen all completing their deals at the end of the season.

With Adelaide having a lucrative pre-season when it sold five players for a reported $1.5 million, it’s understood goalkeeper James Delianov has been touted as a potential transfer sale.

He was signed from Western United as the club’s first-choice gloveman on a two-year deal in November as Veart believes the Reds can bounce back to form against Wanderers.

“We have to go back to our basics,’’ Veart said.

“And back to our structures and reinforce to the playing group for what they have done exceptionally well this season is the type of football they have played.”

Adelaide may have another chance to face Sydney during the finals series but it will be facing a depleted outfit if it makes the top six.

Sydney coach Steve Corica has lost Ryan McGowan, Rhyan Grant and gloveman Andrew Redmayne to Socceroos 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying duty in Kuwait for the rest of the season.

Corica said Sydney had played its best match of the season at Hindmarsh but found it hard to understand why Elsey wasn’t sent off after a brash first-half challenge on striker Bobo.

Elsey was expelled in the second half for a second booking.

“100 per cent (Elsey) should have been sent off,’’ he said.

“He’s gone in two-footed, both feet are in the air, that’s a red card for me, it’s very clear, I saw that on the replay, they (match officials) got it wrong.”