Football
AAP 7y

Poor refereeing costs the Wanderers 'all year, every week' - Tony Popovic

Tony Popovic says he's sick and tired of talking about A-League match officials, after Western Sydney were dealt yet another unfavourable call that cost them a vital win over Adelaide.

Dimas' disallowed goal in the first half of Saturday's nil-nil draw was just the latest in a string of decisions that have hurt the Wanderers this season -- their own inconsistencies aside.

The Spanish skipper netted after otherwise well-performing young Reds gloveman Daniel Margush spilled the ball several times, only for referee Kris Griffiths-Jones to rule there'd been a foul during the goal-mouth scramble.

Popovic cut a furious figure in the Spotless Stadium dugout and was given a talking to by Griffiths-Jones.

But he refused to reveal the referee's reasoning for the ruling.

"I just don't want [say] to because it's too many times," Popovic said.

"It's all year, it's every week. It's a clear goal, it's a legitimate goal. And he found a way for it not to be a goal."

The Wanderers had myriad opportunities to put the error right but, in frustratingly familiar fashion, could not convert their dominance in all key statistics except the one that mattered most.

Young striker Lachlan Scott left the field dispirited after being denied by Margush and struggling to make his numerous chances count, though Popovic praised the 19-year-old's progress.

The result opens up the tight mid-table fight for sixth spot, with Newcastle (eighth) now a chance to overtake the Wanderers (sixth) on Sunday while Wellington (seventh) and even Central Coast (ninth) remain in contention.

The Wanderers packed last fortnight has featured three losses, one draw and a Sydney derby win from five games and the coach took solace in the lack of injuries and upcoming week off.

Veteran Brendon Santalab is in line to return against Wellington on March 19 along with the rested Mitch Nichols.

"I don't believe we have any injuries from the game so that's a real positive. Santa should be back, that's another positive," Popovic said.

"So although [it was] a tough period, these five games in two weeks, we pretty much come [through] unscathed.

"If we keep playing like that I'm a firm believer that it's going to click.

"I know games are running out but we've got to get ourselves in the finals, and if we do that we'll go in there with confidence and take on whoever we have to."

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