Melbourne Victory head coach Kevin Muscat provided an update on Lawrence Thomas after the goalkeeper’s injury in Newcastle.
Thomas came off in the second half of Victory’s 2-0 loss to the Jets on Saturday after a heavy collision.
Goals from Nigel Boogaard and Riley McGree saw Newcastle to its win at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Speaking at a post-match media conference, Muscat was asked about Thomas and his team’s missed chances.
on the game…
“We created a number of chances, possibly twice as many strikes on goal as them. They’re all stats and you can make of them whatever you want, but I thought conceding the first goal when we did, in the manner that we did, that concentration when it’s a set-piece is vital, because I thought we were starting to impose ourselves on the game, away from home here in Newcastle and then to concede off that set-piece – whether it was a foul or not is another question – but that moment there, those moments are huge.
“The first half was difficult with the wind, the conditions, and the second half I thought we were starting to apply some pressure, we were getting that territorial pressure if you like and putting balls into their area and making them defend, a couple of balls came off the woodwork and then to concede when we’re not in a position to press, again it’s that over-eagerness to press when they’re comfortable possession, you get opened up and two passes later it’s a tap in.
“Those moments we’ve really got to address and we’ve got to get better at because generally for the game, and considering everything throughout the week, the players we lost in the last three or four days through injury, I’m pretty proud of the group that was out there for their efforts.”
on whether Victory will add to the squad…
“Obviously if there was an opportunity, we’re looking at this point in time, considering the windows that are closed and the type of player that is available with the period of games that we’ve got left, how much football would they have played, you’ve got to weigh up a lot of things and take into consideration a lot of things, but to have three defenders ruled out – two of them in the last two or three days – was a unique set of circumstances.”
on Thomas after the goalkeeper’s heavy collision…
“It was a decent collision from what I saw so hopefully he’ll be fine. I don’t know exactly, but they’ve ruled out major things so hopefully it’s just precautionary taking him to hospital and making sure that he’s OK.”
