Heidelberg United coach George Katsakis feels his team needs to adjust to the new level of the National Premier League, after being initially overwhelmed by South Melbourne’s intensity.
While the Bergers showed promising signs in the second half, they were unable to match their opponents pressure in the first, and their failure to clear their lines in time cost them.
Katsakis was left to lament his side’s slow start, but was pleased with their performance after the break.
“I knew we were up against a good side and I think it took us a while to get into the momentum of the game and into the rhythm,” he said.
“I think the second goal, conceding so softly put a bit of a barrier between us. I think a lot of people dropped their heads, couldn’t get around it.
“We came in the second half and reshuffled it a bit and to be quite honest I thought we were the better side in the second half without creating too many opportunities but then again neither did they, other than the goal which we conceded very late, which again was another mistake of our own.
Heidelberg last featured in the top flight in 2012, where they finished bottom of the Victorian Premier League.
They bounced straight back up last season by winning the State League 1 league title, and Katsakis believes his side needs a bit more time to get re-acquainted with football in the top flight.
“Overall it’s shown us the difference between division one of last year and the new NPL is certainly a step up in grade and we’ll have to probably re-adjust, work on certain things during the week and hopefully get it right,” the head coach said.
“I think it’s more the intensity and the level of play, the decision making time that you have on the ball and all that was obviously noticed, but I think until we get into the tempo of it, hopefully it doesn’t take too long, I think we’ll be ok to be honest.”
Katsakis also trusts in the squad that he’s assembled, believing that they weren’t an inferior side to South Melbourne on paper, and feels that their opponents’ game plan was just too much to handle on the night.
“I don’t think they are a much better team on paper to be honest, I think we’ve got some very good players, individuals,” he said.
“I just felt that we got sucked into their game. They played a very typical Chris Taylor game where they just bomb things long to Milos and we just couldn’t pick up that second ball that fell back in.
“They were sort of dominating and we’re not used to it. We’re used to playing football.
“But then in saying that they’re intensity was a lot greater and every time we tried to play they were in our faces.
“They did make it hard for us. But in terms of ability one for one, we’re just as good with the personnel that we’ve got.
“I think we’ll bounce back, we’re a much better team than that and in the near future we’ll show that.”
A big positive for Heidelberg on the night was the crowd of 3175 people, which also forced kick-off to be delayed by 15 minutes.
Katsakis hopes that the fans will return, and hopefully bring back the glory days to Olympic Village.
“If today’s an indication of that and it’s not just a novelty that people were hoping to come out just to see what the difference would be, then I think we’re in for a really good time in terms of the new NPL,” he said.
“I think it’s magnificent. It’s great to see a derby kick off in the way that it did today.
“I think it’s phenomenal, we’re very happy to be part of the NPL and very proud to be honest.
“It’s an acknowledgement to history in this state of football for South Melbourne and Heidelberg, to kick off the season, the launch of this new competition. I think the club’s delighted to be amongst it.”