Wanderers might be the highest NSW club on the Hyundai A-League ladder but it’s Sydney FC who statistically are the state’s A-League kings on the pitch. Though nationally, it’s a vastly different story for the Sky Blues.
Ahead of Saturday night’s Sydney Derby blockbuster at Wanderland, the Sky Blues have proven they are the masters when it comes to NSW derby matches over the last couple of years.
For instance, this season of Sydney FC’s six wins so far, all of them have come against fellow clubs from NSW.
Graham Arnold’s side has beaten Newcastle Jets three times this campaign, triumphed twice against the last-placed Central Coast Mariners and won the Sydney Derby against the Wanderers in Round 3.
And it’s not just this season the Sky Blues have enjoyed success against their nearest neighbours.
Sydney FC are unbeaten in their last 10 matches against the Jets, while they haven’t lost their last five head-to-head clashes against both the Wanderers and Mariners.
That’s a pretty dominant record for Sky Blues fans to quote to their mates.
You have to go all the way back to March 2014 – almost two years ago – to find a defeat for Sydney FC in an all-NSW encounter ( a 2-1 loss to Central Coast on March 1).
Unfortunately for Graham Arnold’s men, Wanderers fans will delight in knowing that when it comes to taking on sides from outside NSW, the Sky Blues crumble.
In eight matches against non-NSW clubs this season, the Sky Blues haven’t managed a solitary victory.
In fact their last regular season win against an out-of-town side came in the round 26 clash in Perth last April, which came on the same day Glory was expelled from the finals for salary cap breaches.
So, on the national scene their record is nothing flash.
But can the Sky Blues maintain their incredible NSW record or will it come to an end at the hands of their bitter rivals on Saturday night?
See you at Wanderland!
