March 23, 2015 11:24:52 UK
Kenny Lowe knows six points from the last nine games is not premiership-winning form, but the Perth Glory coach remains positive after his side were held 1-1 away to Central Coast Mariners.
The Glory looked to have one hand on the Premier’s Plate as they went into the Asian Cup break, but have failed to win since 2nd January.
Their point means they join Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC on 38 points, with leaders Wellington Phoenix having opened up a four-point gap at the top.
Perth, having taken the lead with 11 minutes left when Jamie Maclaren headed home from a corner, saw two points disappear in injury time as Nick Montgomery lashed home an equaliser from 30 metres.
“The main thing is to keep believing,” said Lowe. “We are in with as good a shout as anybody.
“We have had a great year. We just don’t want it to peter out. There is a lot more twists and turns to come in this league and we are in the mix.”
The Glory coach, whose side are 6.50 to win the Grand Final, added: “I thought we were a little bit off, but worked hard in the second half and it’s just a shame we didn’t get anything.”
Mariners interim coach Tony Walmsley admitted his side would have been “really deflated” if they had failed to take anything from a game where they were at least the equal of the visitors.
The Gosford club had 60 per cent of the possession and hit the post in the first half through Fitzgerald.
Perth are far from out of premiership contention as, on paper, they have a significantly easier run-in than any of their rivals.
Three of their last five games, including both their remaining away matches, are against bottom two sides Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Glory are 1.61 to win their next match against Western Sydney, who are 5.50 with the draw 3.80.
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