Glory players have allowed themselves only a small window to enjoy their great win against Sydney as they quickly refocus on grabbing the points against Adelaide this weekend.
Glory players have allowed themselves only a small window to enjoy their great win against Sydney as they quickly refocus on grabbing the points against Adelaide this weekend.
Defender Hayden Foxe, a former Socceroo and English Premier League player, said the Reds could be doing it tough next Sunday after a gruelling midweek road trip to Uzbekistan to play the second leg of their Asian Champions League semi-final.
But, if Perth is to take advantage of Adelaide’s crowded schedule and secure a win for a second week in a row, the preparation must again be spot on and no one was getting carried away by the 2-1 result against the Sydneysiders.
“It’s a big confidence boost, but that game is finished now and we’re concentrating on Adelaide,” said Foxe at team recovery on Monday.
“It’s a good time to play Adelaide to be honest, they’re doing a lot of travelling and have a hard game in the Champions League.
“They’ve got to come back and play a game, so it’s going to be difficult but (it’s also) difficult for us and we’re not going to take it easy.
“Hopefully, we can just continue what we did over the weekend.”
In an assured performance at centre back alongside Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Foxe demonstrated his class by nipping several Sydney attacks in the bud and superbly marshalling a defence that had conceded 20 goals in the seven previous matches.
Foxe and Topor-Stanley’s dominance in the air reduced John Aloisi to an almost peripheral role before the marquee Sydney striker was substituted in the second half.
However, it’s been a long journey making it to seven Glory appearances for the flame-headed Foxe after the defender arrived at the club following Leeds’ demotion from the English Championship at the end of the 2006/07 season.
He made six appearances last season after succumbing to a knee injury of the eve of the opening round and returned late in the piece to help Glory finish the year on a brighter note.
Foxe looked back to his best during a pre-season cup hit-out against Newcastle in July, but in the club-s next game against Melbourne, he took a hit his foot, the same one he injured just before Christmas 2003 while playing for Portsmouth.
The injury kept him away from the game for 18 months and this time around it cost him another three months on the sidelines.
Foxe and Glory medical staff set themselves the round eight match to make his return and it proved well planned with the big defender playing 90 minutes and punting the ball away in delight at the final whistle.
“It’s (the foot) the best it’s felt actually all season, so just got to keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully I can play the rest of the season, Foxe said.
“It’s hard when you’re injured because it’s your job, all I want to do is play football.
“Seeing the smiles on everyone’s face, not just the fans but the ball boys and everyone, the staff (was great), so hopefully we can continue on this run and see more smiling faces.”
