Western Sydney Wanderers coach Marko Rudan has hailed his troops following a "disciplined" 1-0 A-League Men victory over Western United at North Hobart Oval.
Rudan's side were forced to defend their 1-0 lead with 10 players for the final 25 minutes - plus an additional seven minutes of injury time - on Saturday after fullback Aidan Simmons was shown a straight red card following a crunching tackle on Kane Vidmar.
Lachlan Brook netted what proved to be the winner just after the half-hour mark, and while Western United toiled to make the most of their numerical advantage, the Wanderers were able to shut them out.
"We work on playing against an opposition with a man down, and also if we're a man down - not that we go out deliberately to do things like that," Rudan said.
"There was maybe one opportunity there (for Western United), you're going to get that, but other than that we were very, very solid. Very disciplined."
Rudan is hoping a return of some key personnel will ensure the high-flying Wanderers keep the pressure on Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory, who are four and two points ahead respectively.
Brandon Borrello is on the long-term injury list, first-choice shot stopper Lawrence Thomas will return when the Socceroos Asian Cup campaign ends, and Dutch import Jorrit Hendrix hasn't played since being forced from the field against the Central Coast Mariners on January 6.
Rudan rued the loss of those "big players", but was looking forward to their imminent return.
"They're going to come back in the next couple of weeks," he said.
"When we have a full squad to choose from, and everybody is available, we just need to be there or thereabouts and we're doing that, we're grinding away.
"Once we have all bodies available, and we're fit and ready, we're going to give this a really good crack."
Western United coach John Aloisi was left to lament costly misses in the first half, before the deadlock was broken.
Young striker Michael Ruhs failed to capitalise on 21 minutes when he had just Wanderers' 'keeper Daniel Margush to beat.
Soon after, and with Margush out of position, Ruhs fired over from 10 metres following a cut back from Noah Botic.
"It was a game we should have been up (in) early on," Aloisi said.
"We had clear chances again; one-on-ones, open goals. We're not taking them.
"It's the story of our season really, because if you go in front, it's a different game.
"Towards the end we were pushing when they went down to 10 men, we just kept on trying and kept on going. But it wasn't to be.
"They're a good side, they've got good players going forward but we had the clearer of the opportunities."
