Sydney FC coach Steve Corica has vowed his side will improve after a sub-par performance against the Central Coast and some recent scratchy A-League form.
The Sky Blues eked out a 2-1 away victory over winless last placed Mariners with an unconvincing performance on Saturday.
Sydney needed a contentious penalty and a 25-metre piledriver from Brandon O’Neill to secure maximum points after their former striker Matt Simon put the Mariners ahead.
Coming off a draw at Newcastle and a home loss to Melbourne Victory, Sydney have been grinding out results rather than being the ruthless free-scoring beast they were under previous coach Graham Arnold in the past two seasons.
Nonetheless, they will still end the round in third spot.
“We’ve played well for most of the game’s but we will improve it’s normal, it’s six games in,” Corica said.
“We’re on 11 points and we’ll definitely get better.
“We’re looking to bring in another striker as well, which will help the squad,
“But they take time, the boys, to gel. They are working hard, the attitude is great, which is the most important thing for me.
“As long as they do that the patterns and the style of play will come.”
Corica could get a double shot of additional creativity for next week’s home game against Wellington Phoenix with marquee attacker Siem de Jong and midfielder Daniel De Silva in line to return to the squad.
Dutchman de Jong has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury but was back training this week.
Corica said De Jong would definitely be in the squad for next week, but wasn’t sure if he would start.
De Silva has logged less than 70 minutes in league and cup substitute cameos since returning from a pre-season hamstring injury.
He couldn’t play against the Mariners, the club he is on loan from, but was scheduled to play most of a youth league game on Sunday.
Corica said Sydney had missed De Silva’s dribbling and needed more goals up front.
English striker Adam Le Fondre has bagged six goals in as many A-League games, but has accounted for 60 percent of the Sky Blues scoring.
Skipper Alex Brosque is next best with two with only four Sydney players have scoring this season.