Sydney FC out to end Brisbane Roar’s A-League hot streak

Sydney FC are aiming to extend their own unbeaten streak by ending Brisbane Roar’s.

Sydney FC players celebrate their win over Melbourne Victory in the Big Blue at AAMI Park last week. Picture: Getty Images

Undefeated streaks are always hard to hold onto in the A-League, but Sydney FC coach Steve Corica is focused on ending one on Friday night.

The Sky Blues are undefeated in their past 11 A-League games, with 10 wins and a draw, and will face Robbie Fowler’s Brisbane Roar who have rocketed up the ladder over the past five weeks.

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The Roar have not been beaten since a 2-0 loss to Western United in Round 10 in mid-December, and are now sitting just outside the top-six by a point.

But if anyone knows how hard it is to hold onto a streak, and also break one, it’s Corica.

“It’s not easy, I think you’ve got to really focus on every game because anyone can beat anyone in this league,” Corica said.

“You’ve obviously go to prepare right for every game. We’re pleased with where we’re at at the moment, but we want to move further forward.

“We’re 10 points clear at the moment but we don’t want to stop at that. We want to keep going and keep winning.”

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Just six weeks ago the Sky Blues handed Roar a 5-1 thumping at Jubilee Stadium but they will face a more confident and composed opponent at the same venue on Friday night.

At various points this season Fowler has said the Roar have been solid in every game except for their capitulation against Sydney in Round 9, but upon review, he’s not so sure.

“I’ve done a little bit of watching that game and I think I’m being harsh on the lads,” Fowler said on Thursday.

“I stand by what I’m saying now that 5-1 looks a horrendous result, and it is in terms of the scoreline, but I don’t think we’re that bad in terms of performance.

“In terms of chances created and possession of the ball, corner kicks, everything going into the final third was actually not that bad.

“If we can rectify some silly mistakes and some of the naivety from a defensive point of view we’ll go into this game in much better shape, but I think we’re a better team than we were a month ago.”

Roar will welcome back midfielder Aiden O’Neill from Olyroos duties, while Sydney FC will be without defender Michael Zullo for up to a month as he recovers from a calf injury.

Meanwhile, sacked Western Sydney coach Markus Babbel has launched a scathing attack on the A-League in an interview with German newspaper Bild. Babbel has hit out at the poor standard of refereeing in Australia and labelled the A-League “weak”.

“What is going on here is gambling under the open sky,” Babbel told the newspaper. “I was stolen eight points this season, it is incredible how bad the referees are doing.

“If you know our referees and see what’s going on here, that’s blatant.

“My mistake was that I publicly denounced it early on and then became the focus.

“But honestly, I did not understand until the end what they are whistling.”

Asked about the level of the A-League, Babbel replied: “To be honest, weak.

“The pace is slow, there are many technical mistakes.

“You can see a good game from time to time but that’s more of an exception.”

AAP