A-League Preview: Perth Glory vs Melbourne Victory

Perth Glory host Melbourne Victory at NIB Stadium on Saturday night where Perth will be eyeing a long-overdue win against a third placed Melbourne Victory outfit.

Perth went into last week’s match away at Wellington with a lack of confidence but almost came away with the 3 points. French import William Gallas turned back the clock with a superb display including a brilliant goal in the first half.

Wellington though peppered the goals with shots, eventually finished with a 21-7 shot count over Perth and in the 84^th minute it was Kenny Cunningham who equalised and denied Perth of a much-needed win.

On the other hand, Melbourne Victory ran out comfortable winners at home against the Central Coast Mariners.

Coming up against an out-of-form Central Coast outfit, who are traditionally known to be less potent in away ties, Melbourne grinded out a 3-1 victory with youngster Jimmy Jeggo scoring in the 31^st minute before Zac Anderson equalised just after the hour mark.

However, goals from James Troisi and Kosta Barbarouses was enough to see Melbourne Victory take the three points.

Important thing to note for the Victory though that consistency has not been a strong-point this season. There have been many changes in the previous weeks for Victory, with a whopping 6 changes for the midweek match against Jeonbuk Motors.

Form Guide

Played: 27       Victory: 11      Drawn: 6         Glory: 10

Melbourne Victory Last 5: DWWLW  Perth Glory Last 5: LLLLD

Absentee List

Melbourne Victory: Connor Pain, Dylan Murnane (both omitted) Leijer (facial fractures)

Perth Glory: Shane Smeltz (Groin), Travis Dodd (knee), Scott Jamieson (Achilles)

Possible XI

Melbourne Victory:

Thomas; Geria, Contreras, Ansell, Traore; Finkler, Broxham, Milligan, Troisi; Rogic,Thompson

Perth Glory:

Duncan; Risdon, Gallas, Thwaite, Clisby; Griffiths, Burns, Harold; De Silva, Marinkovic, Sidnei

Keep your eye out for

Gui Finkler: He was my man to look out for last week but had a relatively quiet game in his team’s 3-1 win. I have to name him again this week because we have all seen just what he can do, and how he can do it. Against a very average Perth, Finkler’s technical prowess will come to the fore and adding in that he wasn’t in the ACL squad all adds up to a fresh, dangerous Finkler.

Prediction

Without trying to sound too harsh, Glory deserve to be stone motherless on the table. Not much has gone right for them, and with Vukovic leaving on loan to Japan, the problems that the team face have been severely multiplied.

Melbourne come into this match with good form following last weekend’s result and although the team played a midweek Champions League tie, it is almost a certainty that Victory will run out winners.

FTSAUS Fact

Victory have a shocking record away at NIB Stadium. After 13 matches they have the record of 3W – 2D – 8L.

Perth struggling to find the net. They have only scored more than one goal in a game once this calendar year.

 

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