Head Coach Richard Garcia is confident that his squad have plenty of improvement left in them as they prepare to lock horns with ladder leaders Central Coast Mariners at HBF Park on Tuesday (kick-off at 6.20pm, tickets HERE).
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Glory secured a fourth victory of the campaign on Friday evening, downing Brisbane Roar 3-1 and in the process, setting a new all-time A-League record of 18 goals scored in their opening six games.
But Garcia feels that his charges are yet to hit anywhere near their best form.
“We produced a decent performance [against Roar] and we’re looking to grow from that,” he said.
“I feel that we have a lot more in the tank than we showed on Friday.
“Hopefully the cobwebs are out and Tuesday night will be a lot cleaner performance.
“The stats don’t really make a difference to me; it’s more being content with the way the guys are progressing.
“They are playing attractive, attacking football, which is the football I feel our fans want to see and it’s the football that I want to play and see.
“I think the group are enjoying playing this way, but the most pleasing thing for me is not the amount of goals that we’re scoring, but that we’re taking things on board and growing as a group.”
The Mariners, meanwhile, will head west having lost just once on their travels this term and Garcia has been impressed by what he’s seen from Alen Stajcic’s side.
“They’ve been together quite a while now and have added some real quality, so they have a decent squad,” he said.
“They had a tight game with Adelaide last time out and it was difficult for them copping three penalties.
“They’re going to be a tough opponent as they’re top of the league, full of confidence and travelling really well.
“But it’s our home game… and another opportunity for us to improve as a group and as individuals and really grow and get another victory.”
In terms of early team news, Garcia confirmed that no fresh injury concerns emerged from the Roar game and that with the exception of Sebastian Langkamp and Chris Ikonomidis, he is expecting to have a full squad at his disposal.
A victory for the men in purple on Tuesday could lift them as high as third on the ladder, just three points behind the Mariners who have won just once at HBF Park since 2013.
Match Details
Tuesday, 2 March 2021
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
HBF Park, Perth
Kick-Off: 6:20pm (Local)(9:20pm (AEDT))
Referee: Daniel Elder
Assistant Referee 1: Josh Mannella
Assistant Referee 2: Matthew Southern
Fourth Official: Shane Skinner
VAR: Chris Beath
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvCCM
To purchase tickets visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets
Perth Glory squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 5.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 6.Osama MALIK, 8.Kosuke OTA, 9.Bruno FORNAROLI, 10.Andy KEOGH, 15.Brandon WILSON, 16.Nick SULLIVAN, 17.Diego CASTRO (C), 18.Nick D’AGOSTINO, 20.Carlo ARMIENTO, 21.Bryce BAFFORD, 22.Josh RAWLINS, 23.Dane INGHAM, 24.Daniel STYNES, 29.Darryl LACHMAN, 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 34.Mason TATAFU, 38.Ciaran BRAMWELL, 88.Neil KILKENNY
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 21.Bryce BAFFORD (promoted), 38.Ciaran BRAMWELL (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 7.Chris IKONOMIDIS (knee – 2-3 weeks)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 3.Lewis MILLER, 4.Joshua NISBET, 5.Stefan NIGRO, 8.Oliver BOZANIC (c), 10.Daniel DESILVA, 11.Jack CLISBY, 12.Marcos UREÑA, 14.Daniel BOUMAN, 15.Kye ROWLES, 19.Matt SIMON, 20.Adam PEARCE (gk), 21.Ruon TONGYIK, 22.Michal JANOTA, 23.Dan HALL, 25.Matthew HATCH, 26.Jaden CASELLA, 29.Alou KUOL, 32.Max BALARD, 33.Louis KHOURY
Ins: 25.Matthew HATCH (Promoted), 33.Louis KHOURY (Promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 6.Gianni STENSNESS (Lower Leg – 1-2 weeks), 30.Jordan SMYLIE (Knee – 2 Weeks)
#OneGlory
