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Nov 29, 2012   |  7:21PM AET

Postecoglou keeps one eye on defence

Postecoglou keeps one eye on defence

Defence remains at the top of Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou’s priority list, despite the team notching up their first clean sheet of the season against Western Sydney on Saturday.

Defence remains at the top of Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou’s priority list, despite the team notching up their first clean sheet of the season against Western Sydney on Saturday.

The 2-0 triumph was Victory’s third from their past four matches, and came against the odds following the 15th-minute sending off of young defender Sam Gallagher.

Prior to that win – which lifted them to third on the Hyundai A-League table – the club had conceded 16 goals in seven matches, and the coach was delighted with the improved effort at the back.

“Defensively, the way we started the game even with 11 men, we seemed to be a little bit more focused and disciplined in our approach,” Postecoglou said after a sweltering training session at Gosch’s Paddock on Thursday.

“I think it’s a constant reinforcement of what our priorities defensively are. And obviously it’s not just about defenders or the goalkeeper, it’s about the whole team.

“If nothing else at least last week’s given them the confidence that when we stick to our organisation we can be pretty resilient defensively.

“We need to keep improving that area, and I think we’ve still got improvement to go.”

In a further boost to the club’s defensive stocks, Victory captured the signature of Australian youth international centre-back Jason Geria on Wednesday.

Although he said Geria will not line up against Perth Glory at AAMI Park on Friday night, Postecoglou believes the 19-year-old will be pushing hard for a spot in coming weeks.

“That’s his first session, he arrived last night,” Postecoglou said. “Jason, he’s one that I brought up in Brisbane from Canberra, he’s a good young defender.

“We’re probably a little bit thin – even our youth team stocks – in terms of defenders, so he gives us a little bit more depth. I expect him to be pushing for a spot in the team for the rest of this year but we’ll let him settle in first and get to know the players.”

Postecoglou’s side will welcome back Marcos Flores and Petar Franjic for the visit of Perth, with Archie Thompson and Mark Milligan missing on Socceroos duty, and Gallagher out through suspension.

Postecoglou, however, is unfazed by the reshuffle.

“We get Marcos Flores back which obviously helps,” he said.

“We’ve kind of had to cope with this almost on a fortnightly basis. We’ve had Marco (Rojas), Archie and Millsy out before on international duty. I guess the only difference this time is at least all the other teams are affected as well.

“With Marcos Flores coming back he provides a little bit more attacking quality for us and I’m pretty confident we’ll be alright.

“Defensively, obviously we’ve got to replace Sammy (Gallagher) as well, so Petar Franjic will come in. Aside from that we’ll pretty much keep it as is.”

Victory suffered through training in 35-degree heat on Thursday, coming just two days after near-monsoon conditions in Melbourne for Tuesday’s session.

Postecoglou said that whatever the weather had in store for Friday, his men would be ready.

“We didn’t do too much to be honest, it was a bit less intensive than what we’re used to but having said that we’ve still got to get through the work,” he said.

“It’s Melbourne mate, we’re used to it.”