Kenny Lowe believes that his charges are relishing the prospect of another high-stakes showdown when they take on Western Sydney Wanderers at Spotless Stadium on Sunday (kick off 2.00pm WST).
Glory’s Head Coach has labelled every game between now and the end of the regular season a ‘Cup Final’ and feels that the playing group is responding in the right way to the challenge of launching a late surge into the finals.
“It’s definitely another Cup Final for us this weekend,” he said, “and that’s a good thing and an exciting thing because it means that there’s something to play for.
“If we can go over there and get another win, it really sets us up for the run-in, especially as four of our last five games are at home.
“Training has been sharp this week, just as it has been all year in fairness and with most of our players now available, we’ve actually got the option of naming an unchanged side which is something we’ve hardly been able to do at all this season.”
Wanderers come into the game four points above Glory having lost just one of their last four games and Lowe is expecting Josep Gombau’s men to provide a stern test.
“They’ve had a tough year a bit like oursleves,” he said. “But they have a quality squad, a great coach and are a tough side to play against, so we know we’ll have to be at our best to pick up the three points.”
Former Glory favourite Josh Risdon is expected to return for the hosts having missed last weekend’s Sydney derby through suspension, while Chris Ikonimidis will be out to continue the impressive form that saw him named as the February nominee for the Hyundai A-League NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award.
Glory’s last visit to Spotless Stadium came on the opening weekend of the season when, despite a second-half rally which culminated in a late own-goal from Brendan Hamill, the visitors were edged out 2-1.
The WA side avenged that defeat in Round 18, however, as Diego Castro bagged a brace and Andy Keogh also found the net in a 3-1 win at nib Stadium.
Match Details
Sunday, 4 March 2018
Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Perth Glory
Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park
Kick-Off: 2:00 WST (Local) (5:00 PM Local)
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Assistant Referee 1: Lance Greenshields
Assistant Referee 2: James Tesoriero
Fourth Official: Stephen Lucas
Video Assistant Referee: Craig Zetter
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 501 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 1 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: myfootballnation.com (2SM, 6PR Perth and SWR 999). ABC News on Radio, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Listen App – A-League Live.
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #WSWvPER
Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad:: 3.Jack CLISBY, 4.Josh RISDON, 5.Brendan HAMILL, 6.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 7.Steven LUSTICA, 9.Oriol RIERA, 10.Alvaro CEJUDO, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 16.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 18.Chris IKONOMIDIS, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 24.Raul LLORENTE, 33.Michael THWAITE, 40.Nicholas SUMAN (gk), 42.Keanu BACCUS, 49.Abraham MAJOK.
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 4.Josh RISDON (returns from suspension), 15.Kearyn BACCUS (promoted), 49.Abraham MAJOK (promoted)
Outs: 8.Roly BONEVACIA (suspended)
Unavailable: None
Perth Glory squad: 2.Alex GRANT, 4.Shane LOWRY, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 8.Xavi TORRES, 9.Andy KEOGH (c), 13.Nick FEELY (gk), 15.Brandon WILSON, 16.Joseph MILLS, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Andreu GUERAO, 20.Jake BRIMMER, 22.Adam TAGGART, 23.Scott NEVILLE, 26.Jacob ITALIANO, 27.Riley WARLAND, 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 66.Dino DJULBIC, 88.Neil KILKENNY
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 4.Shane LOWRY (returns from suspension), 15.Brandon WILSON (returns from injury), 27.Riley WARLAND (promoted)
Outs: 37.Walter SCOTT (omitted)
Unavailable: 14.Chris HAROLD (quad – 1-2 weeks)
#CREATEDESTINY
