The Weekly Wanderer: Derby Day

We’re from the streets of Western Sydney, home of the mighty RBB (RBB), we will follow you forever, we will be by your side.

It’s been two years since Western Sydney last tasted success in this fixture. On January 11th 2014, a late Brendon Santalab strike was enough to settle the score at Wanderland and send fans into ecstasy. Since then, Sydney FC have gone on to win four of the last five and make sure everybody else in the league knows it.

This Saturday night’s encounter, this fiery fixture – fuelled by a genuine hatred between both sets of supporters – is set to be one like no other. The Western Sydney Wanderers enter this match rueing missed opportunities after a 3-2 defeat to Melbourne City. The loss to John van’t Schip’s men, coupled by Brisbane’s point with Wellington, saw the red and blacks slip down to second on the league standings as a result. The Sky Blues meanwhile made it four matches without defeat after they saw off Newcastle 2-0 inside ANZ Stadium.

In terms of personnel, while Jaushua Sotirio leaves on Olyroos duty, the Wanderers welcome Brendon Santalab and Scott Neville back into the lineup. Graham Arnold’s side however will have to make do without Alex Gersbach, Andrew Hoole, Brandon O’Niell (all on Olyroos duty) and club captain Alex Brosque who has been ruled out for up to a month with a hamstring injury.

After a difficult 2014-15 campaign saw the public pose serious questions toward Tony Popovic’s managerial capabilities, the former Crystal Palace first-team coach has since turned things around. The Wanderers are once again amongst the legitimate contenders for this year’s domestic title and have been playing a brand of football that’s garnered plenty of positive attention. And while his managerial counterpart from the harbour side continues to attract attention with his excuse-filled press conferences, Popovic has instead maintained his modest stance.

This weekend’s match cannot come soon enough. With a crucial three points at stake for both sides, expect the physicality, expect the emotion, and expect the goals. This unparalleled passion that both sets of supporters have is sure to create a spectacle of song and dance in the stands. A true testament to how far football has come in this country. There’s nothing like derby day.

Come on you Wanderers.

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