Australia NewsMitch: Keep Your Chin Up Tando |
TANDO Velaphi has apologised to his teammates for his costly blunder against Central Coast Mariners and been told to keep his chin up by Perth boss Dave Mitchell.
Velaphi, who has saved Glory on countless occasions will want to forget the moment the ball bounced over his head and the ensuing slip on a dewy surface as he tried to recover. The custodian relegated to just an onlooker as Matt Simon poked the ball into an open net.
"He (Tando) came into the rooms and apologised to all the players," Mitchell said.
"Tando has made some great saves during the season, he is a great goal keeper in his own right and he'll learn from it, as we all will. There is nothing really you can say in that instance except keep your chin up."
It was a bitterly disappointing end for Perth who dominated proceedings in the opening half hour and rattled the cross bar twice. A goal down at the break Glory persisted against a stubborn Central Coast defence and got back into the game only to see their efforts evaporate in the dying stages.
Mitchell said: "Goals change games and when we dominated we played well, moved the ball around well and created chances but couldn't score.
"They (Mariners) got back into the game and made it difficult from then on.
"Credit to the boys in the second half, we put in a good shift and looked to have done enough to get something out of the game but it wasn't to be. To lose the game the way we did was very disappointing for everyone."
Perth now return home for another huge home clash and are left to ponder what they must do to secure a point on the road after coming away with nothing for the third time this season.
Mitchell added: "If you look at the performance we've done everything else but win the game and so we just have to keep plugging away.
"We're strong at home and there is no reason we can't take our best performances on the road.
"We are continually analysing our travel routine and what can be done to ease the burden of the long flights however I don't think we're far away from getting something out of our games away from home."
Have YOUR say - What do you think about "Mitch: Keep Your Chin Up Tando"? Tell us NOW in the comment section below.
