The Phoenix blew a two-goal lead to lose to the reigning A-League Men champions in extraordinary circumstances at Sky Stadium on Sunday after former Italian international Alessandro Diamanti sealed a stunning comeback for Western by scoring off a 95th minute free-kick.
Talay was particularly frustrated by what transpired in the lead up to Western's second goal, scored by Aleksandar Prijovic in the 84th minute.
He claimed the Phoenix were denied the chance to make a substitution when leading 2-1 as the fourth official was unable to get through to referee Tim Danaskos when Western were awarded a free-kick in their own box.
Defender Tim Payne was stripped and ready to come on, but Talay said the fourth official told him the referee's communications system was not working and he could not hear the substitution request.
However, a spokesperson for the A-Leagues said the communications system was operational, Danaskos was just tied up āmanaging playersā. Western took the free-kick quickly and the referee waved play on.
Talay said he wanted to bring on an extra defensive player so the Phoenix could āshut up shopā and try to hang onto their lead which had just been cut in half after Jacob Tratt pulled a goal back for Western in the 65th minute.
But Payne never made it on the field as Western took the free-kick quickly, went down the other end of the pitch and scored after replacement striker Prijovic got his head on the end of a pinpoint cross from Ben Garuccio.
āJust before the second goal we wanted to make a substitution,ā Talay said.
āThe officialsā comms werenāt working for some reason so the fourth official couldnāt get his information across.
āWe wanted to bring on Tim Payne to shut up shop but when we couldnāt make the substitution we conceded straight after there was a foul for Western.
āItās disappointing at this level that we have to deal with these types of things.
āI think he tried to flag the linesman down as well to get the information across.
āIn my opinion, at this level we play at, I donāt think thatās good enough.