IT couldn't get any worse for the Brisbane Roar - or so coach Mike Mulvey thought.
The once mighty Roar is second-last on the A-League ladder after being overrun 2-1 by newcomers Western Sydney Wanderers at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday. It was their third straight loss.
However, plenty more headaches loom for Mulvey.
Medical staff will this week assess whether Matt Smith will require surgery after the Roar captain finally succumbed to a hip complaint and watched Sunday's capitulation from the stands.
Another sorely missed on Sunday was prized import Jade North, who is yet to convince staff he is ready to play his first game since last month.
And striker Besart Berisha and Shane Stefanutto won't be available for the next match against the Glory in Perth on Saturday night after earning a fifth yellow card for the season.
Not much is going Mulvey's way but the Roar coach was still trying to cling to positives.
"It was a much improved effort from last week (1-0 loss at Newcastle). We are hurting badly but we also have a desire to improve," Mulvey said.
Eyebrows were raised when Mulvey opted not to play either defender Smith or North against the in-form Wanderers. Mulvey said the experienced pair was missed but he had no choice but to omit the duo.
"What we lost with those two is experience but Jade is not ready yet. It's as simple as that," he said.
"And Matty has been to the well once too often with an injury that is causing him to wake up in pain throughout the night."
AAP
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