Melbourne City striker Jamie Maclaren believes their derby loss was merely a blip as the reigning Isuzu UTE A-League premiers prepare to face the only other team to have beaten them this season.
City will look to right a wrong against Sydney FC on Saturday night after a disappointing 3-2 loss to rivals Melbourne Victory last weekend.
“(Victory) made obviously a song and dance about beating us but we’re top of the league,” Maclaren told reporters on Friday.
“We’ve been there for a long time and one-off games we need to be better, but at the same time there’s no panic stations from us.”
Maclaren said City had not dwelled on the loss and instead turned their focus to an in-form Sydney, who beat them 2-1 in December.
The fourth-placed Sky Blues make the trip down to Melbourne with a spring in their step as they look to maintain their four-game unbeaten streak.
City will be without captain Scott Jamieson after he was ruled out with a hamstring injury, although head coach Rado Vidosic said he should be back in action soon.
“We do expect him to join the team next week,” Vidosic said. “But we are just not sure if Friday is going to be too soon.”
Jack Rodwell and Jaiden Kucharski will return from injury for the Sky Blues, although several young players from both sides will be out as they venture overseas for Australia’s U-20 team.
Sydney coach Steven Corica said fielding a consistent team with players moving in and out was proving a challenge in the league.
“It obviously leaves us a little bit short on numbers but it gives other people opportunities to come in and show what they’ve got,” he said.
This weekend’s round will be the A-Leagues Pride Celebration where both team captains will sport pride armbands and the corner flags will be swapped out for rainbow pride flags.
