Adelaide United have fought their way to a scrappy 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar at Coopers Stadium to record their first victrory in A-League six games.
The contest never reached any great heights with both sides frequently coughing up the ball cheaply and unable to retain possession for large periods.
Chances were few and far between with Craig Goodwin scoring the winner in the first half and Joey Champness having a potentially equaliser saved from the spot kick.
Reds coach Carl Veart was happy with the result despite turning in an indifferent performance.
"It's always good to get three points," he said.
"We weren't at our best tonight but the boys dug in and managed to do enough to get the win."
Brisbane coach Warren Moon felt his side were second best in the opening 45 minutes but were the better side after the break.
"Adelaide were good in the first half," Moon said.
"The second half, I thought we were very good. I thought we were unlucky without being clinical.
"We had some moments and controlled the majority of the second half."
After a sloppy opening where neither side was able to stamp their authority, it was Goodwin who broke the deadlock on 23 minutes.
The winger played a neat one-two on the edge of the area with Kusini Yengi before racing on to the return pass, which looked to have pushed Goodwin wide, but he made no mistake from the tight angle burying his shot in the bottom corner.
Ben Halloran threatened out wide and on 30 minutes was released by Ryan Strain behind Brisbane's defence, but Josh Cavallo failed to hit the target.
On 38 minutes the Roar had a chance to equalise after earning a spot kick. Joey Champness teed up Josh Brindell-South but his shot was blocked by the arm of Ryan Kitto who came sliding in.
Champness stepped up to take the ensuing penalty but it was well saved by Reds' keeper James Delianov.
Halloran was involved in United's next attack a minute later, but he dragged his shot past the post.
Yengi should have doubled the home side's lead just before halftime when he was put through by a long ball out of defence from Jordan Elsey but Roar keeper to beat, he shot straight at Jamie Young.
The second half largely followed in much the same vein as the first, with both sides trading blows without landing any significant shots.
Halloran continued to threaten down the right for Adelaide while Brisbane unloaded the bench early with James O'Shea, Dylan Wenzel-Halls, Golgol Mebrathu and Riku Danzaki all introduced to try to give the visitors some attacking spark.
Strain had the Reds' best chance of the half on 70 minutes latching on to a through ball from Halloran as United countered but shot straight at Young.
O'Shea went closest for Brisbane, stinging the palms of Delianov with a powerful, curling free kick from the edge of the area.
Australian Associated Press
