Wanderers ‘learned a few things’ in scare by minnow

Markus Babbel says his side have no chance of winning anything unless they improve dramatically.

Markus Babbe gestures during his side’s FFA Cup win over Hellenic AC in Darwin. Picture: Getty Images

Western Sydney coach Markus Babbel says his side have no chance of winning anything unless they improve dramatically on last week’s last-gasp 4-3 win over minnows Hellenic Athletic in an FFA Cup round-of-32 game.

The Wanderers dodged a bullet against the semi-professionals from Darwin, leaving the former German international perplexed and disappointed after they had gone 2-0 up inside 10 minutes only to see the hosts get it back to 3-3.

It was only Roly Bonevacia’s late goal that saved the Sydney heavyweights from what would have been the biggest upset in FFA Cup history.

While the result gave Babbel his first win in a serious match since he took the reins a month ago, it was far from the sort of assured performance he was looking for as the side spluttered against a team they should have beaten comfortably.

“The good thing is that we learned a few things,” Babbel told The Australian yesterday. “We know what we have to work on. The boys were upset as well after the game.

“They showed good character to keep going and score in the end and we now make the next stage.

“But, I told them, if we don’t improve then we have no chance to win anything … no chance, no chance.

“We have to work on all the small things. We have enough time so now it is up to the players.”

Babbel said he saw no signs of complacency or arrogance leading into the game, but things started to go wrong after the opening 10 minutes. “We stopped working and got sloppy. One bad pass, then a second bad pass, then it was like a domino … you touch one and the rest fall.

“I could not believe this. They (Darwin) were the worst team we had played. We had played much better teams (in pre-season) and did very well.”

Still, Babbel says the game is history and he believes they will only get better, starting with the round-of-16 FFA Cup game against NSW NPL side Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Marconi Stadium on ­August 29.

It will be a different looking side, though, with German signings Patrick Ziegler and Alexander Baumjohann likely to make their first appearances for the club. Whether they could be joined by further signings remains to be seen, according to Babbel. The Wanderers have room for another visa player and a marquee, but the German is not going to be rushed into making any decisions, especially given he is unfamiliar with the salary cap.

“Of course, I have ideas (about bringing in new players),” he said. “But, it is new for me … the salary cap. It is not so easy (to work with).

“We (the Wanderers management) are talking, but I don’t know if it is realistic in the next few weeks. I am not blind … I am looking.

“I would also like to see how the young players are improving.”