Perth Glory return to home comforts on Saturday evening, following a tough two game road trip, when they entertain Western Sydney Wanderers at the nib Stadium, kick off 6:45pm. After being edged out 2-1 in both games against Melbourne Heart, in the heat at Albury, and despite dominating, against Sydney FC last week, the Glory will need to do something they haven’t achieved in the Hyundai A-League, and that is to beat the Wanderers.
Perth Glory return to home comforts on Saturday evening, following a tough two game road trip, when they entertain Western Sydney Wanderers at the nib Stadium, kick off 6:45pm. After being edged out 2-1 in both games against Melbourne Heart, in the heat at Albury, and despite dominating, against Sydney FC last week, the Glory will need to do something they haven-t achieved in the Hyundai A-League, and that is to beat the Wanderers.
Since their introduction into the competition in 2012, the Glory are yet to beat Tony Popovic-s side, but they did draw the last home games against them at Patersons Stadium last season. Labinot Haliti had given the Wanderers the lead before half time, but a Nick Ward goal three minutes from time earned Glory a point.
This week is vital for Kenny Lowe-s side, and the Interim Coach will have a few selection headaches, with skipper Jacob Burns pushing for a starting role, after coming off the bench last week. Meanwhile teenager Daniel De Silva and Brandon O-Neill, who has been promoted to the squad for the game, are both knocking on the door after good form for the Foxtel NYL side.
Sidnei Sciola Moraes looked back to his sparkling best last week, and will be the outlet for the Glory down the flanks. The experience pair of William Gallas and Michael Thwaite will need to be on their toes, with Mark Bridge and Brandon Santalab in good form, and both scored in the 3-1 win against the Glory at Pirtec Stadium in round 16.
Riley Woodcock and Josh Risdon will have their hands full with Youssouf Hersi, who is returning to the form of last season, but the battle in the middle of the park is where the game will be won. Steven McGarry and Serbian midfielder Nebojsa Marinkovic, will go toe-to-toe with Aaron Mooy and Mateo Poljak, while Rostyn Griffiths, who opened his goal scoring account last week in Sydney, is in line to make his home league starting debut. The Wanderers will be missing Japanese midfielder Shinji Ono, due to illness, defender Jerome Polenz, though suspension, while keeper Ante Covic also misses due to a groin injury.
Heading into this week-s fixtures, there is a log jam in the middle of the table, with just two wins separating third to ninth spot, and a win can see the Glory jump two places on the table to close the gap on the top six. Saturday is also a huge day for Danny Vukovic, who is celebrating his 200th Hyundai A-League game. The Glory custodian has been in scintillating form this season, and it would be a fitting tribute to end the clubs barren run against the Wanderers, in his milestone game.
Saturday, 22 February 2014
Perth Glory v Western Sydney Wanderers
nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 6:45pm (WST)
Referee: Shaun Evans
Assistant Referee 1: Mathew Cheeseman
Assistant Referee 2: Michal Jasinski
Fourth Official: Adam Fielding
TV Broadcast: 6.30pm (WST) Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1HD and Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand).
Radio Broadcast: ABC Grandstand Full coverage Online/Mobile A-league live phone app. Sport FM (Perth)
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvWSW
To purchase tickets visitwww.aleague.com.au/tickets
Perth Glory Squad: 1.Daniel VUKOVIC (GK), 2.Jack CLISBY, 3. Brandon O-NEILL, 5. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 7. Jacob BURNS, 8. Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 9. Shane SMELTZ, 11.Adrian ZAHRA, 14.Steven McGARRY, 16.Sidnei SCIOLA MORAES, 17. Chris HAROLD, 18. Jack DUNCAN, 19. Josh RISDON,20.Daniel DE SILVA, 23.Michael THWAITE, 25. Riley WOODCOCK, 28. Darvydas SERNAS, 36. William GALLAS
** two to be omitted **
Ins: 3. Brandon O-NEILL, 11. Adrian ZAHRA
Outs: 10. Jamie MACLAREN
Unavailable: Travis DODD (knee – indefinite), Scott JAMIESON (achilles – indefinite)
Western Sydney Wanderers Squad:2.Shannon COLE, 3.Adam D-APUZZO, 4.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 7.Labinot HALITI, 8.Mateo POLJAK, 9.Tomi JURIC, 10.Aaron MOOY, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 13.Matthew SPIRANOVIC, 15.Kwabena APPIAH, 17.Youssouf HERSI, 19.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 20.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 22.Dean HEFFERNAN, 23.Jason TRIFIRO, 30.Thomas MANOS (GK) 31.Alusine FOFANAH
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 15.Kwabena APPIAH (promoted), 22.Dean HEFFERNAN (promoted), 23.Jason TRIFIRO (promoted), 30.Thomas MANOS (promoted), 31.Alusine FOFANAH (promoted)
Outs: 1.Ante COVIC (groin – 1 week), 6.Jerome POLENZ (suspended – 1 week), 20.Shinji ONO (illness – 1 week)
