FTS A-League Preview Round 27: Western Sydney Wanderers vs Perth Glory
The final round of the Hyundai A-League regular season takes place this weekend as a penalised Perth Glory come up against the wounded Western Sydney Wanderers at Pirtek Stadium. In truth, both sides’ respective campaigns obtain very little positives to look back on. But with only pride at stake, this match should remain a highly contested and attacking one.
The Wanderers enter the final match of their utterly disappointing domestic campaign hoping to provide their fans with one last glimmer of happiness. Tony Popovic’s men were able to get all three points against Adelaide United last weekend and will be looking to approach the Glory with similar intentions. However, their midweek Asian Champions League defeat to Kashima Antlers will no doubt remain fresh and weigh heavy on the minds of the players. Nevertheless, the ‘red-and-blacks’ would love nothing more than to avenge this latest stutter of their season with a well-deserved pride-restoring victory.
Meanwhile, Kenny Lowe and his players enter this final fixture with discernible disappointment. Although last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Melbourne City saw attempts to reclaim some measure of dignity amongst the club and its fans, there is no doubt that they are still struggling to deal with the punishment afforded to them by the FFA following their breach of the salary cap. Regardless of how this Saturday’s encounter in Western Sydney finishes, at the conclusion of the ninety minutes Perth Glory will drop to seventh place, subsequently missing the 2014/15 finals series.
As the aforementioned victory over Melbourne reiterates the Glory’s stance on going down and out with heads held high, this weekend’s encounter against the Asian champions will be a match they intend to win. Standing in the way is a Western Sydney Wanderers outfit supported by what is sure to be an improved turnout at ‘Wanderland’. At this stage of the season, given the respective circumstances affecting both clubs, league standings are certainly irrelevant. Here’s hoping to one last entertaining match of football between these two teams as they bid the 2014/15-season farewell.
Head-to-Head:
Played: 8. Western Sydney Wanderers: 5. Perth Glory: 2.
Last Meeting: 28/3/2015 at nib Stadium. Perth Glory 3-2 Western Sydney Wanderers
Form Guide:
Western Sydney Wanderers: WLDLW Perth Glory: DWWLW
Absentee List:
Western Sydney Wanderers: Romeo Castelen (injured), Brendan Hamill (thigh), Labinot Haliti (hamstring), Brendon Santalab (shoulder), Jaushua Sotirio (hamstring), Nick Ward (knee – indefinite), Golgol Mebrahtu (knee – indefinite)
Perth Glory: Jacob Collard (not selected), Youssouf Hersi (hamstring – season), Ruben Zadkovich (2 weeks)
Possible XI:
Western Sydney Wanderers: Covic; Golec; Topor-Stanley; Spiranovic; Tanaka; La Rocca; Poljak; Takahagi; Bridge; Castelen; Juric
Perth Glory: Vukovic; Kramar; Dulbic; Thwaite; Risdon; Garcia; De Silva; Oxborrow; Harold; Keogh; MacLaren
Prediction: Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 Perth Glory
FTSAUS Facts:
In every match the Western Sydney Wanderers have played against the men from WA, they have always managed to score a goal. Breached.
Perth Glory are unbeaten in their last 10 away league matches with four wins and six draws. Form.
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