The players looked like they were trying really hard, but it was hard to avoid the impression that Macarthur FC were impotent against Sydney FC last Saturday night.
And it wasn’t just about suffering the biggest defeat of the season, 3-0, and at home to boot.
It was the first time this season the Bulls gave that impression, and surely it goes back to physical and mental fatigue among the playing group.
They just never seriously looked like bothering the scoreboard attendants across the 90 minutes of the match.
Indeed the fatigue was most obvious in the backline, which just couldn’t match it with the speed of the attack from Sydney FC.
Bulls head coach Mile Sterjovski was scratching his head afterwards trying the find reasons for his team’s poor performance.
“It was a disappointing performance, it’s hard to take,’’ he said.
“We were second to everything, and didn’t deserve any points tonight.
“I’m not sure what the reasons were; we didn’t turn up, the energy, even in possession we were not ourselves tonight,’’ he said.
“It’s a wake up call, because there are big games coming up the rest of the month and in February.’’
It starts with a road trip to the Central Coast this Saturday night to face the Mariners.
It won’t be an easy assignment, not even though the home side are running dead last on the ladder half way through the season – and they’re having serious off field challenges to deal with as well.
The Bulls need to rediscover their mojo as soon as possible if they want to play a leading role at the pointy end of this A-League season.
It will have to start this Saturday against the Mariners, who will not be a pushover – they never are
The Bulls next home game at Campbelltown Stadium will be against Melbourne City FC on Saturday, January 24, with a scheduled 7.35pm kick-off.