Foxe: no derby hangover for Wanderers after Westfield FFA Cup loss

Western Sydney Wanderers caretaker boss Hayden Foxe denied there was a ‘Derby hangover’ for his side after they lost their Westfield FFA Cup semi-final to Adelaide United on Tuesday night.

In an entertaining clash at Campbelltown Stadium, the Wanderers lost 2-1 to miss the chance to make their first Westfield FFA Cup decider.

The defeat comes just three days after they were involved in a pulsating 2-2 Sydney Derby draw against the Sky Blues, but Foxe isn’t using that as an excuse.

“The performance for the majority of the game, I don’t see a derby hangover at all,” the Wanderers boss told Fox Sports.

“We dominated large parts. At the end of the day we lost 2-1 and that’s the stat that counts.

“With the ball we were excellent. I thought we moved the ball with great energy, we found spaces in the wide areas and we had numerous opportunities.

“But unfortunately we give a goal away [early] and then you have to climb a mountain.”

It was a defensive error which allowed Johan Absalonsen to open the scoring for the Reds, before Daniel Adlung doubled the advantage after the break.

Brendon Santalab pulled one back with 20 minutes left but that was as close as they would come, falling to their first defeat of the season.

Foxe is confident the side can regroup ahead of a tough trip to Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League on Sunday.

“We have men there, we have a real resilient group,” Foxe said of his squad.

“’People say there is problems when there’s a change of staff but the players have responded.

“Everyone is hurting, it’s not easy to take but they’ll respond and they’ll be ready for Newcastle in the A-League.”