A halftime spray from manager Ufuk Talay has fired up Sydney FC and helped the Sky Blues finish over the top of Western United with a 4-2 A-League Men win.
Talay could barely hide his frustration on the sideline, and his dissatisfaction remained evident in his post-match press conference at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Sydney fell asleep in the first five minutes to allow Angus Thurgate to score from a corner, before goals from Fabio Gomes and Joe Lolley put the Sky Blues ahead at halftime.
But Talay revealed he was incensed with his side's work off the ball and said their change in attitude helped them to the third win of his tenure.
"At 2-1 up at halftime, I wasn't happy with the way we were playing," Talay told AAP.
"I don't think we pressed well and the backline dropped off because they were worried about the ball over the top.
"The boys knew my feelings at halftime and we definitely needed to improve. We came out with a different mentality in the second half.
"It's nice to get the three points and win the game but performance-wise I'm not happy. Not happy at all."
After the break, Sydney played like a team possessed.
Jack Rodwell bagged his first ALM goal to put the home side 3-1 up in the 47th minute, while Gomes forced United goalkeeper Tom Heward-Belle into a number of reflex saves.
The Brazilian striker has struggled to hit the heights since arriving in Sydney but Talay was hopeful his No.9's scrappy first-half strike would be the start of a run.
"We want our strikers to score goals and that goal will build confidence," Talay said.
"We got some good deliveries in there for him and it'd be nice to see him get on a few of those too."
Talay was unable to relax, however, with Matthew Grimaldi pulling one back for the visitors with six minutes of regular time left.
United thought they had drawn level through Michael Ruhs soon after, only for his effort to be chalked off.
Almost instantly, Sydney worked their way up field and Lolley fired in a floating shot for his second of the evening to wrap-up victory.
"At the end of the game everyone fell to their knees," United's assistant coach Hayden Foxe, standing in for the suspended John Aloisi, said.
"We're frustrated with the result, but from a performance aspect the boys gave us everything.
"The only disappointing thing is we're not finishing the opportunities we're creating."
Talay, whose side sit in 10th spot, faces a reunion with his former club and current league leaders Wellington Phoenix next week while second-from-bottom United travel to fellow battlers Newcastle.
