Sydney FC skipper Alex Wilkinson has dismissed suggestions that Sunday’s clash with Melbourne City is a title-decider as the Hyundai A-League’s top-two clash in Kogarah.
In the blockbuster encounter of Round 12, Steve Corica’s in-form Sky Blues take on City at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (kick-off 6.30pm AEDT).
Sydney FC have the chance to open-up a nine-point buffer at the top of the ladder if they can take maximum points against Erick Mombaerts’ men.
And the home side will certainly enter the clash full of confidence, having gone seven games without defeat, while they have won their last six matches at the Kogarah venue.
“The boys love playing there, it’s the community feel and these community grounds we’ve managed to get around to they’re just a great family feel,” Wilkinson said on Sydney FC’s official website.
“The family can come along, sit on the hill, kids can run amok while the family is watching the game. We really enjoy playing there. It’s a big game for us which is great.
MATCH PREVIEW: Sydney FC v Melbourne City
STAT ATTACK: Le Fondre the key in battle of Hyundai A-League’s top two
“It’s just like any other game, it’s one v two and it gives us a nice chance to put a buffer on the rest of the league if we do win but we treat it like any other game.
“It’s far from a title decider with so long in the season to go. Our form over the last five or six weeks has been very good and confidence is high in the camp.”
The match is being billed as a battle of the competition’s two most-lethal strikers in Sydney FC’s Adam Le Fondre (11 goals) and City talisman Jamie Maclaren (10 goals).
The pair have been in devastating form in front of goal for their respective clubs and are likely to have a significant say in the outcome of the result on Sunday.
“We talk about the team [we’re playing], how they play and the patterns in their attacking play [but] we don’t want to focus on one player,” Wilkinson said.
“If you end up focusing on one player they’ve got quality all over the park that can hurt you.
“We’ll do our video on them, same as every week, we’ll focus on ourselves and what we’ll do with the ball and if we do that well, I’m pretty confident we’ll get a good result.
“The coaching staff and players have created a great culture [at Sydney FC]. We all get on really well off the pitch and we’ve created a lot of success on the pitch.
“That culture is built around being successful and winning trophies and we’ve managed to do that the last four years.
“That’s why players want to be here and be a part of it because they know we’re going to be challenging every year.”
SYDNEY: ‘I don’t think anyone can beat us’: Brattan bullish if Sydney FC hit top gear
CITY: Brillante embraces City challenge after he ‘literally won everything at Sydney’
Click here to buy tickets
Sunday, 29 December 2019
Kick-off: 6.30pm AEDT
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
HOW TO WATCH: All the Hyundai A-League action in Round 12
FIXTURE UPDATE: Changes to the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 draw
