Western Sydney Wanderers captain Mitch Duke believes his side need to sharpen up in attack if they are to save their Hyundai A-League top six hopes from crumbling completely.
The Wanderers suffered a big blow to their ambitions of making the Finals Series by drawing 1-1 with Newcastle Jets on Saturday, squandering the advantage after Duke’s eighth-minute penalty.
It leaves the Red and Black four points away from sixth-placed Brisbane Roar, who visit Western United on Sunday.
“We just dropped off and let them back into the game,” Duke told FOX Sports.
“They controlled the last part of the first half and the second half was very up and down, too inconsistent for our liking.
“At the end of the day we didn’t lose but we need to do much better.”
Duke added: “He [Wanderers interim boss Jean-Paul de Marigny] made sure to try and reset our focus.
“He wanted us to start the same way in the second half. I don’t think we reciprocated, unfortunately.
“We just couldn’t get ourselves ruthless enough upfront and we were just too open at the back in parts of the second half. Not good enough.”
For Newcastle, the post-match feeling was one positivity following an encouraging maiden showing under new boss Carl Robinson.
