He doesn’t think his side was at their best but Alen Stajcic's return to West Australia has ultimately proven a happy one after his Western Sydney closed in on the A-League Men’s top six by defeating Perth Glory 2-1 on Tuesday.
Surrendering a fourth-minute lead via a comical own goal, skipper Adam Taggart got the Glory back in at HBF Park but Zac Sapford’s 59th-minute run and shot ensured his coach would enjoy a win against his previous employer.
The Wanderers move to within two points of sixth-placed Sydney with the win but will have little time to savour it: immediately jumping on a red-eye flight ahead of a Friday evening game with Central Coast.
“Tonight probably wasn't our best performance,” Stajcic told Paramount+.
“Probably wasn't the prettiest.
“But it was so important to come all this way and get the three points.”
Their hopes of a second-straight home win dashed by defensive errors, the Glory remain second bottom but put in another performance suggesting their insipid early season displays are in the past.
They will travel to face Newcastle on Saturday but could be without Nicholas Pennington after the midfielder was forced off after just 16 minutes.
“They've definitely turned a corner in the last week or so,” said Stajcic.
After denying an early Brandon Borrello attempt, Glory keeper Oli Sail could do little but desperately flail at the ball as his side went down, despairing as Tomislav Mrcela slipped and scooped his attempt to clear off teammate Andriano Lebib and into his net.
Golden chances subsequently went begging for Nicolas Milanovic and Sapsford but fortunately for the Glory the game began to level out and they worked their way back, Zach Lisolajski and Brandon O'Neill producing chances.
Kept quiet in the first half, Taggart sprung to life as the second resumed and had Glory level in the 48th when he was first to a Risdon delivery to the near post.
Zapsford ensured this parity lasted just ten minutes. Milanovic stole a poor Sail goal kick in the 59th minute and played Sapsford into the space he needed to dart forward, round the on-rushing keeper, and finish into an open net.
Pausing briefly after the automatic sprinkler system at HBF Park forced a delay, both teams were wasteful in front of goal in the remaining exchanges, Socceroo attackers Taggart and Borrello blazing wide as their national team boss Tony Popovic watched on from the stands.
