Melbourne Victory need to get to the bottom of their goal scoring woes as they attempt to end a six-game winless run, captain Roderick Miranda says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The A-League powerhouse play cellar-dwellers Western United, who have a decimated defence due to suspensions and injuries, at AAMI Park on Tuesday night.
Western have lost defender James Donachie and captain Josh Risdon to bans.
Donachie was outed for three weeks for a horrendous challenge on tackle Brandon O'Neill which resulted in the Jets captain spending a night in hospital.
Risdon received his eighth card for the season in Western's 2-0 win over the Jets.
Western, with 15 goals to their credit, are also the only team to have scored fewer in the league than Tony Popovic's side's 28 this season - but Victory have developed the unwanted habit of dropping points.
Popovic's outfit have had five draws in six games and are goalless in their past two.
"The spirit is there because each game, even when we're not winning, we are fighting every game, we are having our chances," Miranda said. "So it's not lack of effort, it's not lack of belief. Now we need to try to fix what's missing. Maybe the final touch, the final pass, the final decision."
Leading scorer Bruno Fornaroli is in the mix to return from a broken hand but Miranda stressed that Victory "cannot rely only on him" to score goals.
Adama Traore (leg) appears unlikely to feature.
Both teams have a tight turnaround, with United having beaten Newcastle on Friday night and Victory drawing with Melbourne City on Saturday.
Western United coach John Aloisi is adamant his charges can upset their cross-town rivals, despite being without defenders Risdon, Donachie (both suspensions) and Ben Garuccio (injury).
"We have eight contracted players unavailable, so if we can get a good result ... and a positive performance then not only for this season, but it builds for our future," he said.
"It shows that we're capable even with all these players out - that we can match it against anyone. So that's what we'll be trying to do.
"We believe we can go out and get the win. No doubt about that."
Aloisi was wary of a Victory outfit that has dominated games but failed to convert those performances into results.
"We have to take advantage if they are feeling it," he said.
"But we can't think that they're not going to be up for it because they will be."
James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
