Canberra United head coach Robbie Hooker believes that his side will have to create their own luck if fortunes are to change this weekend in front of goal against third placed Melbourne Victory.
Canberra United head coach Robbie Hooker believes that his side will have to create their own luck if fortunes are to change this weekend in front of goal against third placed Melbourne Victory.
Canberra is three points off the top of the table but can justify feeling unlucky after dropping two of their three games despite their dominance of possession against the Newcastle Jets (Rd 1) and Central Coast Mariners (Rd 3).
“I certainly don-t think it can continue the way it has been, I think we-re due to get a bit of luck go our way but I-m certainly a believer that you try and make your own luck,” Hooker said.
“You need to make those opportunities rather than just saying ‘it-s not our day-, you need to make things happen.
“The chances we have had have been a combination of poor finishing, good goalkeeping and good defending but having said that I-ve still been able to identify areas in our game where could possibly create more chances.
“I-m a believer that if we create enough chances that the law of averages will say that you-ll convert some of them eventually.
“When you get a run of luck not going your way you tend to continue in that vein and start looking for excuses as to why you-re not scoring goals and I don-t want to go down that path.
“I think it means that we-ve got to work a little bit harder, create a few more chances rather than looking for excuses.”
Only Perth has scored fewer goals (1) than Canberra United (3) but opportunities have been abundant with strikers Sasha McDonnell and Kara Mowbray busy in the forward line.
Hooker though believes the squad is “good enough” to take on the responsibility of creating chances or scoring more goals across the park rather than a reliance on the front two.
“We-ve certainly got enough players in the squad that are good enough to create chances but it-s a matter not solely relying on one, two or three, we need to as a team become a little more unselfish about the play and movement off the ball and passing.
“We-ve been working on it a bit this week, supporting our players a lot better and a lot quicker, hopefully it-s not the same one or two players that are getting those chances because if that becomes apparent teams will start to know that and nullify those player.
“We want to try and make sure that we get other people involved and get them in scoring positions as well.”
Goals will be difficult to come by this weekend against the Melbourne with Matildas first choice shot stopper, Melissa Barbieri, lining up for the Victory.
Though the same can be said for the opposition with Canberra-s custodian Lydia Williams challenging Barbieri as first choice keeper for the national team and will be looking for a personal victory over her opposite number.
Both will obviously be trying to keep a clean sheet to try to get one up on each other,“ Hooker said.
They-re both different goalkeepers and both very good goalkeepers but it should be an entertaining game and both teams will need to be at their best to score goals.”
“[Barbieri] is going to be difficult opposition to beat, she-s been the number one [Matildas] goal keeper for the last couple of years,” said Hooker.
“Realistically it-s not going to be an easy game and we-ve got a good goalkeeper as well in Lydia Williams so hopefully it will be an even contest but I get the sense that if our luck evens itself out this weekend we should be able to come away with a win.”
