Head Coach Bobby Despotovski is backing his side to maintain their impressive recent form and round off their season in style when they take on Western Sydney Wanderers at Bunbury’s Hay Park on Saturday (kick-off at 7.15pm, tickets HERE).
While Glory are targeting a fourth successive win, Wanderers desperately need three points as they look to lock down a place in the finals and with a bumper crowd expected, Despotovski feels that it’s shaping up to be a memorable evening in the south-west.
“It’s great to be back in Bunbury and we’re really looking forward to the game,” he said.
“We’ve had a training session at Hay Park already and the field is in very good nick.
“We’re hoping for another good turnout of fans like we had last time we played here.
“The weather forecast is good, so hopefully people can drive in from the surrounding areas and bring their kids along to watch a high-quality W-League game.
“In terms of our own form, it’s good to see that everything we’ve worked on in the last three or four months is coming to fruition.
“Now they’re seeing that it works, the players are buying into the philosophy.
“We have always said to the girls that they have nothing to lose and to go out and show us what they can do, play within the structure and express themselves; that’s been the message all along.
“As for Western Sydney, they are obviously going to be under a lot of pressure because they’re hanging on to fourth position and if Brisbane beat Melbourne City and we beat Wanderers, they’ll be out of the top four.
“So they have to get something out of the game and that means they will press for the result, which will hopefully open up a few opportunities for us.”
Glory’s last visit to Hay Park saw the women in purple battle out an unforgettable 4-4 draw with Canberra United and having seen his charges score ten goals in their last three outings, Despotovski is quietly confident that they can find a way through the Wanderers defence on Saturday.
“We haven’t been thrashed by anyone in the league this year and that’s due to us having a good structure within the team, especially defensively and that platform gives us the chance to go and create at the other end,” he said.
“At the start of the season, we struggled a bit in front of goal, but as it’s progressed, we’ve been finding goals from everywhere on the park, with defenders and midfielders chipping in and the strikers scoring.
“So we’re getting goals from everywhere and we’re in a good spot at this moment in time.”
Glory will be out to avenge their 3-1 defeat at the hands of the red-and-blacks in Round 9 and the historical omens are encouraging for the WA side who have won five of the previous six corresponding fixtures.
Match Details
Saturday, 29 February 2020
Perth Glory v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Hay Park, Bunbury
Kick-Off: 7:15pm (Local)( 10:15pm (AEDT))
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello
Assistant Referee 1: Arvin Shanmuganathan
Assistant Referee 2: Harry Bolan
Fourth Official: Shane Skinner
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvWSW
Perth Glory Squad: 1.Eliza CAMPBELL (gk), 3.Kim CARROLL, 4.Ayesha NORRIE, 5.Shannon MAY, 6.Arianna ROMERO, 7.CELIA, 8.Morgan ANDREWS, 9.Crystal THOMAS, 10.Julia SARDO, 11.Leticia MCKENNA, 13.Jamie-Lee GALE, 14.Caitlin DOEGLAS, 15.Alexia MORENO, 16.Isabella WALLHEAD, 21.Morgan AQUINO (gk), 24.Natasha RIGBY (c), 34.Tia STONEHILL
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 10.Julia SARDO (promoted), 15.Alexia MORENO (promoted), 34.Tia STONEHILL (promoted)
Outs: 19.Hana LOWRY (injured)
Unavailable: 19.Hana LOWRY (knee – 1 week)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 1.Abby SMITH (GK), 2.Alix ROBERTS, 3.Sam STAAB, 4.Caitlin COOPER, 5.Courtney NEVIN, 7.Amy HARRISON, 10.Kyra COONEY-CROSS, 11.Cortnee VINE, 14.Chloe MIDDLETON, 16.Liana DANASKOS, 17.Tiana JABER, 19.Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 21.Ella MASTRANTONIO, 23.Kristen HAMILTON, 26.Rosie GALEA, 27.Danika MATOS, 30.Courtney NEWBON (GK)
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 21.Ella MASTRANTONIO (returns from suspension), 23.Kristen HAMILTON (returns from suspension)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 8.Erica HALLOWAY (knee), 40.Jada WHYMAN (knee)
#OneGlory
