Jackson Irvine admits the Socceroos' offence needs a rethink and they let Bahrain's gamesmanship get the better of them in a costly World Cup qualification loss.
Australia have arrived in Jakarta ahead of a Tuesday date with Indonesia still licking the wounds of a shock 1-0 defeat to the world No.80 on the Gold Coast on Thursday night.
Graham Arnold's world No.24 side had 70 per cent of the ball and made more than double the passes of their opponents, but created just four shots on goal that were all easily handled by the Bahrain goalkeeper.
A red card to striker Kusini Yengi for a stray boot to the chin of a Bahrain opponent when challenging for the ball came after a string of theatrical reactions to contact from the visitors. It frustrated the Socceroos.
An own goal against the run of play, Abdulla Alkhalasi's cross deflecting off Harry Souttar's leg and beating a wrong-footed Mat Ryan, capped a horror opening to the third stage of qualification.
Arnold and captain Ryan both insisted the side's offensive struggles were not systematic, but midfielder Irvine veered slightly off script assessing their inability to penetrate a stacked Bahrain defence.
"We need to find ways to ask more questions of defences," he said.
"That's the way you can make your own luck.
"We were putting some balls in some good areas ... on another night one of them goes in early and we see these games go very differently.
"(In the second half) it felt like we stopped finding that half space."
Arnold was quick to acknowledge Bahrain's "play-acting", saying post-game the ball-in-play time was a mere 46 minutes.
Irvine agreed their antics had got the better of his side, some of whom experienced that level of gamesmanship for the first time.
"The naivety and understanding the realities of Asian football ... how games can be managed and how games can slip away from you," he said.
"It's not easy (to rise above). You have to find a balance.
"You can't let them get away with it; you want to stand up for your teammates, play with your chest out and say you're here to compete.
'"But you can't cross that line where the game becomes messy and wild and a spectacle for all the wrong reasons.
"It's a fine line to toe and in certain moments we let it slip over into where it made the game easier for them."
The loss leaves Australia searching desperately for a win on Tuesday night to keep pace in a pool that includes Saudi Arabia and Japan, who flogged fellow pool rivals China 7-0 on Thursday.
Only the top two sides earn automatic World Cup qualification.
"We have to react very, very quickly," Irvine said.
"In this team ... no-one's going to go hiding.
"Boys don't go into self-preservation mode like you can see in club level.
"Everyone here will stick together.
"If you're going to lose one I'd rather lose the first. But now we need to perform."
