Glory fans can expect plenty of fireworks in front of goal on Sunday as Perth set their sights on Melbourne in the club’s final home game of the season.
Glory fans can expect plenty of fireworks in front of goal on Sunday as Perth set their sights on Melbourne in the club-s final home game of the season.
Nikita Rukavytsya and Eugene Dadi, who is expected to return to the line-up after being rested against Central Coast last week, will provide the heavy artillery for Perth while for the visitors Danny Allsopp and Archie Thompson are always a threat.
Coach Dave Mitchell is confident his side can make the most of their chances after going two games without troubling the scorer despite creating good opportunities in both matches.
“We work together to create opportunities and it doesn-t matter to me who puts them into the net as long as we-re doing our best to win the game,” Mitchell said.
“We-ve been able to supply our strikers with good opportunities and in turn they-ve also worked hard to create chances for themselves and others, it really is a team thing and that will be the focus again this week.
“We know we have the ability to score and I am confident we-ll give our fans something to cheer about on Sunday,” said Mitchell.
The race is on between Rukavytsya and Dadi for Perth-s Golden Boot award with the forwards sitting on eight goals apiece.
The prolific Glory goal hounds are also within striking distance of the A-League-s golden boot award but will have to find the back of the net on a regular basis over the three remaining rounds if they-re to catch Wellington marksman Shane Smeltz who has a dozen goals to his name.
The last time Melbourne ventured west they were stung by Dadi-s early double and a stunning second half strike from Adriano Pellegrino that sealed an impressive 3-1 win.
“I think he-ll be eager to get out there and score a couple more,” Mitchell said of Dadi. “He has done very well this year and wants to keep that up.”
Jamie Harnwell-s two year reign as the club-s leading scorer will come to an end after the versatile star has predominantly played in defence this season to cover for a string of injuries to key defenders.
After registering hauls of seven and eight goals in the past two seasons, Harnwell has bobbed up to snatch three goals in his limited forays forward in 2008/09 to lead the way for the men at the back.
“It is important that everyone chips in and I think we-re owed one or two from our defenders so hopefully we can get some from them as well,” Mitchell said with a smile.
