Injuries erasing home advantage as Roar struggle for points
ONCE a fortress, Suncorp Stadium has become a graveyard for the Brisbane Roar.
The A-League clash against Adelaide United on Saturday will be the Roar’s 12th at the Milton venue this season.
In 11 matches at Suncorp in what has been a forgettable 2017-18 campaign, the Roar have lost eight matches, drawn one and won only two.
Throw in their 0-0 draw against Wellington Phoenix in the Roar’s December “home” match at Gold Coast venue Cbus Super Stadium, and Brisbane have picked up just eight points from a possible 36 at home this season.
It’s the worst home record in the competition, and in stark contrast to coach John Aloisi’s pas two seasons in charge.
Under Aloisi, the Roar compiled 35 from a possible 42 points in regular season home matches in their 2015-16 ALeague campaign.
While last season wasn’t as impressive, Brisbane still earned 25 points from 13 home games.
The Roar’s form outside of Queensland has been respectable this season. From nine away games, Brisbane’s record is four wins, two draws and three losses.
Aloisi pointed to Brisbane’s extensive injury list this season as a key factor in his side’s poor home form.
“This season, with the amount of injuries we’ve had, we haven’t been able to do that. Almost all of our home games have been close but we haven’t been able to finish off teams,” Aloisi said.