Historically, Glory have endured a terrible record against Brisbane with the exception of the 2009-10 season, when they beat them twice and also enjoyed a draw
Date: Wednesday, 4 January 2011
Kick-off: 7:00pm AWST, 10:00pm (AEDT), 9:00pm (AEST)
Venue: nib Stadium
Head-to-head
Played 19: Wins: Perth Glory 3, Brisbane Roar 12, Draws: 6
Previous encounter
Brisbane Roar 4, Perth Glory 0, Suncorp Stadium, November 2011
History:
Historically, Glory have endured a terrible record against Brisbane with the exception of the 2009-10 season, when they beat them twice and also enjoyed a draw. Since then, it’s been pretty much all Brisbane as they won two of the three encounters last season before producing one of their best victories of the season in a 4-0 hammering of an undermanned Perth side on November 26, a result which saw them set a new Australian record of 36 unbeaten matches. Most of the goals in this game were scored in an incredible 11-minute burst, as Brisbane notched up three goals in that period just before half-time to end Glory’s resistance.
Form:
Past five matches:
Perth Glory: WLLLD
Brisbane Roar: LLLLW
Match Committee:
Glory coach Ian Ferguson may make a few changes to his side for Wednesday’s clash with Brisbane. Defender Josh Mitchell will return to the line-up after serving a one-match ban for his send-off against Central Coast, while big striker Billy Mehmet will also play after having his controversial red card against the Jets rescinded by Football Federation Australia (FFA).
Mehmet may be joined by Shane Smeltz, who continues to battle an adductor problem, but if Smeltz isn’t fit then, Adam Taggart may take his place alongside Mehmet.
The Roar will be without key midfielder Thomas Broich for another fortnight as he battles a heel injury that’s seen him miss the last six matches. Mitch Nichols will also carry a niggling groin injury into this encounter, but coach Ange Postecoglou is adamant the youngster is fit for the two clashes on the road against Perth and Adelaide.
Danger men:
Billy Mehmet – The Irishman has scored in two of the last three games and his predatory finish against Newcastle last weekend was a joy to behold for Glory fans. His dismissal just a few minutes later certainly wasn’t, but with his red card withdrawn, the towering striker will be keen to make up for lost time against Brisbane.
Rocky Visconte – Visconte’s taken his time to become locked into this Brisbane outfit, but in Broich’s absence, the Australian youngster has been forced to step up and take his place. Highly rated during his time at Scottish club Hearts a few years back, Visconte showed his true ability with a cracking strike against Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.
At the end of the day…
Glory are looking for their first win in four matches as the pressure mounts on Ian Ferguson, while Brisbane will be looking to start the new year as they finished the old one.
It had been a long time between drinks for the Roar. Having set their 36-game unbeaten mark, the reigning premiers were brought back down to earth with a thud as they endured five consecutive losses in the absence of Broich and the creative Henrique. But Postecoglou’s men found their fluent movement and their accuracy in a big way against Melbourne Victory, despite going behind early on to a Harry Kewell cracker. Now the challenge will be to build on that performance and lift themselves back into the top two on the Hyundai A-League table, after Central Coast and Melbourne Heart leapfrogged the Roar over the last few weeks.
For Glory, the club will be looking for their first victory in a month since they took maximum points against Gold Coast in early December. The pressure is right on Ian Ferguson, but the Perth side is still just one point adrift of the top six and has been unfortunate in a few matches, particularly against Newcastle, as they were reduced to 10 men in the 26th minute.
There’s certainly been signs that the Glory are not far away from the form that saw them win three consecutive matches to start the season, although the absence of the pacy Andrezinho and several very costly concentration lapses have cost the side in a big way, particularly in losses to Wellington and Heart.
The Glory will certainly have a point to prove against Brisbane though, after being dismantled 4-0 by the then rampant Roar, so expect a cracking contest to finish a big day of Hyundai A-League football on Wednesday.
