Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell says Sunday’s clash at ME Bank Stadium against top-of-the-table Sydney FC is one of the club’s biggest games this season.
Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell says Sunday-s clash at ME Bank Stadium against top-of-the-table Sydney FC is one of the club-s biggest games this season.
Perth-s excellent form at home will give them confidence in the lead up to this weekend-s match, as the squad looks to capitalise on their home ground advantage.
Fresh from a 4-0 win over the Newcastle Jets on Boxing Day, Mitchell believes the team is well prepared to make it two wins on the trot.
“It-s very important, we-re at home, we-ll take the game to them and it-s a good challenge for us.
“Sydney is a very well organised side and they-re not top of the league by fluke.
“They-re consistently good and that-s one of their strengths.
“I don-t think it-s a team of individual stars but they are a very good team and especially dangerous on the counter attack,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell confirmed Socceroos Mile Sterjovski, Jacob Burns and Tando Velaphi will all be in the squad to play the sky blues, with the trio returning from Kuwait early on Friday morning.
“I got text messages from the boys after the game (Australia v Kuwait) saying they were ok and looking forward to the game on Sunday,” Mitchell said.
Former Glory player Simon Colosimo will not be included in the play for Sydney with the Socceroos defender suspended for the match.
“Simon as we all know is a quality player but they have a couple of quality players to come in and with that they-ll be itching to show they-re just as good”.
Glory striker Branko Jelic has been included in the squad after missing the last three games with an ankle problem. Jelic has scored 5 goals this season and his inclusion is a timely boost for the team with both Wayne Srhoj and Victor Sikora both ruled out through injury.
The two sides played at ME Bank Stadium in round 15 with Perth victorious 2-0, thanks to goals from Scott Bulloch and Jelic.
Hyundai A-League 2009/10 Round 22
Perth Glory v Sydney FC
Sunday, 10 January 2010 at ME Bank Stadium, Perth
Local kick-off: 4.00pm
Referee: Strebre Delovski
To purchase tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com.au – click here.
Perth Glory Radio Broadcast Partner: 6PR – 882am www.6pr.com.au – click here to listen.
Live & exclusive TV broadcast on Fox Sports 2 and Sky Sports 1.
Perth Glory Squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 2.Jimmy DOWNEY, 3.Jamie COYNE, 4.Andy TODD, 5.Jamie HARNWELL, 6.Chris COYNE, 7.Jacob BURNS (c), 11. Branko JELIC, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 13.Scott BULLOCH, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17.Todd HOWARTH, 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI, 20.Aleks VRTESKI (gk), 21.Mile STERJOVSKI, 23.Andrija JUKIC
*one to be omitted
In: Jimmy DOWNEY (promoted), Andrjia JUKIC (promoted), Branko JELIC (returns from injury)
Out:Victor SIKORA (injured – thigh)
Unavailable: Wayne SRHOJ (knee – 2 weeks), Anthony SKORICH (foot – 3 weeks)
Sydney FC squad:1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Sebastian RYALL, 3. Stephan KELLER, 6. Karol KISEL, 7. Brendan GAN, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 9. John ALOISI, 10. Steve CORICA (c), 12. Shannon COLE, 13. Anthony GOLEC, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 15. Terry MCFLYNN, 16. Chris PAYNE, 18. Adam CASEY, 19. Mark BRIDGE, 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN.
*two to be omitted*
In: Nil
Out: 4. Simon COLOSIMO (Suspended – 1 week), 23. Ryhan GRANT (Suspended – 2 weeks)
Unavailable:Kofi DANNING (Knee – season), Matthew JURMAN (Foot – season)
*Head-to-heads: Played 13: Perth Glory wins 4, Sydney FC wins 4 (5 draws)
