Adelaide United coach Carl Veart has lamented another slow start for his side as the Reds were defeated 1-0 by Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
A brilliant fifth-minute strike from Terry Antonis was the ninth time that Adelaide have conceded first in this A-League Men's campaign, and it was the sixth goal they've conceded inside the opening 15 minutes.
Veart admitted the Reds were on the back foot from the outset and it was always a battle once they'd gone behind.
"I think too many times this year we've conceded the first goal, some early goals as well," he said.
"I suppose that's more of a focus thing and something that we need to find a solution to because we can't keep doing that.
"It makes it too difficult and, again, we were slow out of the blocks and never really got ourselves going in the game."
Despite the slow start, Adelaide eventually worked their way back into the contest and almost equalised when Zach Clough delivered a perfect corner for Hiroshi Ibusuki, but his goal-bound header was expertly saved by Jamie Young.
United went on to rack up 25 shots to City's nine. Ten of those were blocked, and the Reds also dominated the corner count, nine to two.
But, Veart conceded Adelaide were well below their best.
"It's a hard one; we did get opportunities but it wasn't by the football we want to play," he said.
"That's not who we are tonight and it's happened on a few occasions this year when we have too many players who are below their level.
"We've got to start taking a lot more responsibility as a club to not put in performances like that."
United occupy eighth spot on the table with 18 points, three points behind sixth-placed Macarthur.
But Veart remains confident the Reds can secure a top-six finish come season's end.
"Most definitely – I think we've shown over the course of the year that when we do play with good intent, good intensity, good energy and play our football, we're a very good side," he said.
"Tonight we just didn't do enough of the things we're usually good at, but you still need to get things out of games when you're not having a good night and that's something we need to improve on."
