Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Perth Glory coach Adam Griffiths has hailed Adam Taggart’s mentality after the co-captain overcame a frustrating season and a difficult afternoon to break the club’s A-League goal-scoring record.
As he so often has done so in the past, Taggart delivered in his hometown club’s time of need, netting a 91st-minute equaliser to snatch a deserved 1-1 draw for Glory against Melbourne City on Sunday.
Having equalled Andy Keogh’s previous record of 59 goals in the A-League era for Perth back in January, Taggart only stands behind legends Bobby Despotovski (113) and Damian Mori (84) in the club’s history dating back to the halcyon days of their National Soccer League foundation.
But it has not been the season Taggart would have hoped for, as the striker has been dogged by minor knocks and niggles and scored only four goals in 19 appearances.
And even on Sunday, he was thwarted in his attempts to pull Perth back into the match and missed a bevy of clear-cut chances to level the game — one of which was a one-on-one after he charged down an errant pass and raced clear.
But as the game reached its climax, the 32 year-old turned home Jaiden Kucharski’s low delivery at his beloved Shed end of HBF Park to notch goal No.60 in 130 Glory games.
Griffiths said he was delighted Taggart had continued to persevere in a season where injury has consistently reared its head.
“It’s been tough for him. Anyone that can’t get that consistent training load in, it means that you’re less sharp,” he said.
“Prior to the Wellington game, before he picked up another small injury, he was training the best I’ve ever seen him.
“He’s showing good mentality to come back and lead this team. What we need to continue is that he continues to push, which he will, and show us the way.”
Taggart’s goal capped off a battling effort from Glory which, on another day, may have been rewarded with three points rather than just one.
With just four games left and Perth five points off an unlikely finals berth, Griffiths said he believed his team could bottle the fighting spirit and mentality they showed against City and use it to spur on their end of season top-six push.
“For the next four games, we expect nothing more than that. I expect nothing more than that physical, one-vs-one duels, getting at teams because there’s nothing to lose.
“I’m actually confident we can go on a four-game winning streak. I’m confident if we turn up like that and we put a performance in, the goals will come. I really believe it.”
