Perth Glory plays their final home game of the season on Saturday evening when they take on Central Coast Mariners in the “People’s Game- sponsored by QBE” at the nib Stadium KO 6:45pm.
Perth Glory plays their final home game of the season on Saturday evening when they take on Central Coast Mariners in the “People-s Game- sponsored by QBE” at the nib Stadium KO 6:45pm.
It-s a must win game for the home side and former Mariners midfielder Rostyn Griffiths was delighted the way they snapped their long losing streak last week against Newcastle, and is hoping they can make it back-to-back on Saturday. “The win over Newcastle has given us confidence but mostly it-s given us that winning feel back,” the 26-year-old midfielder said.
“Kenny (Lowe) didn-t talk too much (after the game), he just told us to enjoy the win and carry that on to next week of course.”
The win moved the Glory equal on 25 points with Melbourne Heart, but do have an inferior goal difference. Griffiths knows they will have to be at their best to beat the Mariners, but he is quietly confident. “I think we can avoid the wooden spoon and obviously right now it has to be our goal along with getting good performances,” he said.
“Saturday is a big game – the Mariners need the win to stay in the top two so they-ll be firing and we need a win to get off bottom.
“It-s also our last home game for the season so would be good to finish with a win. It-ll be nice to play against the Mariners. I-ve got plenty of people I call friends at the club, but they-re a good team so we will need to be at our best.”
Unfortunately Griffiths and William Gallas picked up injuries in last week-s win, and will face late fitness tests to see if they can take their place in the side, with Brandon O-Neill and Ryan Edwards on standby to fill the void.
In other team news Danny De Silva, who returned in midweek, after being granted leave to travel to Europe with his family to discuss a possible transfer, comes straight into the squad, while Cameron Edwards is also promoted to the 18-man-squad, after impressing for the Perth Glory NPL side in recent weeks.
Buoyed by last week-s fantastic finish, Chris Harold, Jamie Maclaren and Darvydas Sernas will be hoping to impress Kenny Lowe to get the nod for Saturday, while Sidnei Sciola Moraes will be looking for a starting role after starring off the bench last week.
The last time the Mariners travelled to the West they left with a dramatic 2-1 win, with Mitchell Duke scoring a stoppage time winner. Jamie Maclaren had given the home side the lead on 25 minutes but Michael McGlinchey levelled just 10 minutes later. The Glory then lost defender Scott Jamieson with his season ending Achilles injury, and Duke won it late in Phil Moss- first game in charge of the club, after replacing Graham Arnold.
The Mariners are hitting their straps at the right time of the season, and will be looking to wrap up a top two spot on Saturday. They are on a run of four wins in five games in the A-League, and an Asian Champions league victory against Beijing Guoan on Tuesday night.
Former Glory midfielder Mile Sterjovski, who will also retire at the end of the season, makes a return to the West, and will want to help his side closer to the comfort of second place, and a bye in the first week of the finals.
Another Mariners player with a link to the west is Storm Roux, who spent two seasons in the Football West National Training Centre squad, under the guidance of Glory coach Kenny Lowe, the New Zealand international has blossomed in his second season at the club.
Perth Glory Squad: 2.Jack CLISBY, 3. Brandon O-NEILL, 4. Ryan EDWARDS 5. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 6. Cameron Edwards, 7. Jacob BURNS, 8. Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 10. Jamie MACLAREN, 14. Steven McGARRY, 16.Sidnei SCIOLA MORAES 17. Chris HAROLD, 18. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 19. Josh RISDON, 20. Danny De Silva, 23. Michael THWAITE, 28. Darvydas SERNAS, 36. William GALLAS, 39. Luke RADONICH (GK)
**Two to be omitted**
INS: 6. Cameron Edwards (promoted) 20. Danny De Silva (promoted)
OUTS: None
UNAVAILABLE: Travis DODD (knee – indefinite), Scott JAMIESON (Achilles – indefinite), Shane SMELTZ (groin- 1 week)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Justin PASFIELD (GK), 3.Joshua ROSE, 5.Zac ANDERSON, 6.Brent GRIFFITHS, 7.John HUTCHINSON (C), 8.Nick MONTGOMERY, 9.Mitchell DUKE, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 12.Liam REDDY (GK), 15.Storm ROUX, 17.Anthony CACERES, 19.Matt SIMON, 20.Bernie IBINI, 21.Mile STERJOVSKI, 25.Eddy BOSNAR, 26.Kim SEUNG-YONG, 28.Glen TRIFIRO
**One to be omitted**
INS: 28.Glen TRIFIRO (promoted)
OUTS: Nil
UNAVAILABLE: 10. Marcos FLORES (knee – season), 18. Michael NEILL (knee – season), 23. Adam KWASNIK (knee – season)
