The battle for top spot this Sunday at 2pm!
Scott Jamieson has claimed that he is actually looking forward to receiving a hostile reception from the home fans when Perth Glory take on Adelaide United in Sunday-s match-of-the-round at Hindmarsh Stadium.
The 24-year-old left-back made nearly 50 appearances during a two-season stint with the Reds, but was booed when he returned to the club in the colours of Sydney FC and is expecting similar treatment this weekend.
“I got boos last time I went there and it was good!” he said with a smile.
“I had a special relationship with the fans when I was there.
“Playing for them was fantastic and going back there and getting booed, I enjoyed it.
“It-s just banter.
“They-re a great bunch of people and if they boo me, I give it back to them, so it-s a good blast.
“I have respect for them and I-m sure deep down they have respect for me, but if they boo me I enjoy it.
“Adelaide will always have a place in my heart because I enjoyed two fantastic and successful years there and they did give me my first chance in Australia, so it-s a pretty special place for me.”
Jamieson will be aiming to maintain his fine early-season form during Perth Glory-s cross-border raid and he believes that the tactical approach employed by coach Ian Ferguson has dovetailed perfectly with his own preferred style of play.
“The way this team sets up suits me,” he said.
“At Sydney we didn-t really utilise the full backs well enough, but the freedom the manager gives me here helps me out.
“It-s enjoyable getting forward, supporting the boys and doing my job.
“In terms of my own personal form, I-ve been ok.
“A few things here and there could have been better, but I-m starting to get really confident again and find my groove.”
The defender-s former Adelaide team-mate Travis Dodd, meanwhile, has also been in sparkling form in the opening games five games of the campaign.
But having made his return to Hindmarsh last term, Perth Glory-s stand-in skipper is focusing his attentions solely upon securing three precious competition points.
“I was back there last season,” he said, “so I got that first trip back out of the way and I-m just looking forward to trying to get a road win.
“We-ve spoken about how important it is to pick up results away from home if we are to be a championship-winning team.
“It-s going to be nice to go back wearing the arm band.
“I spent six years there, the bulk of my career, but as any professional knows, you have to move on.
“I-ve seen a couple of the boys at the weekend not celebrate after scoring goals against their former teams, but I-m still undecided what the case would be for me in that situation.”
Dodd may be joined by joined in the squad against the Reds by Shane Smeltz after the Kiwi striker returned to full training on Monday in a development that could give coach Ian Ferguson the nicest of selection headaches.
“It would be great for Shane to come back and bolster the squad,” said Dodd, “but the down side of that is that someone else will miss out and that-s going to be a tough decision for Fergie to make because the boys that have been coming on have been doing a tremendous job.
“I-m glad I-m not in the position to have to make that call.
“Smeltzy is certainly a player that can make a difference in a game.
“He can not be involved all that much and then pop up in the 90th minute and score the winner for you and I-d rather have him in the side than not.”
