Kosmina wants goals

The Reds have scored at least once and created a number of openings in every game since Kosmina took over, but the coach wants to improve the chances-to-goals ratio.

“In two words what we need to do to beat Perth – take chances. We make enough, in every game we make good opportunities, we just need to take them,” Kosmina said.

Adelaide's momentum since Kosmina took over from Rini Coolen mid-season has recently stalled, with a loss and a draw against Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets respectively in the space of a week.

“We’ve made it tough for ourselves because it was a week that we could have come back with six points quite easily and we came back with one,” Kosmina said.

“You look at the Central Coast game, we fixed up a lot of defensive issues that probably cost us the game, so it’s one step at a time, but I think we’re good enough to make the finals but we need to win games and it has got to start on Sunday against Perth, we can’t afford to drop any points at home anymore.”

“They are all must win matches. You can pick one out of the hat but they’re all must wins,” Kosmina said.

“If you take that attitude at the start of the season, that you win every game and play them a week at a time and play them on their merits, that’s how you get success.”

Adelaide is likely to regain midfielder Zenon Caravella after he missed the Jets match with a groin injury, while Cassio is slated to return for the following match against Wellington Phoenix.

Kosmina said the team's heavy workload would not affect its chances to press for an unlikely finals berth.

“They’re young blokes and professional footballers, they’ve got to deal with these sorts of things, so they’re not fatigued. I was happy with the way they ran the game out on Wednesday night,” Kosmina said.

“You know you’ve got problems when the morning after a game players are whinging and moaning, but they were in a good mood yesterday morning and if you speak to the medical department there’s no one complaining of any general soreness, acute soreness or even fatigue.

“They’re fairly bubbly and in a good mood so I don’t think fatigue will be a factor, although the heat might be, but I suppose the good thing is we’ve been in cool and moist conditions for the best part of the week and Perth have had to train in 40 degrees.”