Bobô: Sky Blues keeping vigilant ahead of clash with undermanned Victory

Sydney FC forward Bobô says an understrength Melbourne Victory outfit are not to be underestimated ahead of Tuesday night’s Big Blue at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

14 points and seven positions on the A-League table separate the two sides heading into the fixture kicking off at 7.35pm AEST on Tuesday, April 27. As Bobô’s Sky Blues have continued to enhance their credentials as a Premiership contender, Victory have scrapped for the points needed to clamber away from the foot of the table in what has been a turgid A-League campaign to date by the club’s high standards.

Victory were humiliated in Matchweek 17 by a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Melbourne City, but responded positively in the fallout of the dismal defeat. Grant Brebner was removed from his role as Head Coach and replaced by interim Steve Kean, and Tony Popovic was announced as the man to lead the club forward in 2021/22.

Victory proceeded from announcing the changes in coaching personnel to defeat Western Sydney Wanderers 5-4 on Friday, April 23 in the first game of the club’s next chapter.

After enduring one of its darkest hours, Victory took a series of small, but encouraging steps to emerge on the right track – steps which haven’t gone unnoticed in the Sky Blues camp ahead of Tuesday night’s Big Blue.

“We all saw the 7-0 trouncing they got from City a couple of weeks back,” Bobô told the club website.

“But they’ve since got a new coach, had players return from injury and smashed five goals against the Wanderers. So it isn’t going to be easy.

“Sometimes teams regain their hunger when they have a change of Head Coach and I’ve no doubt they will come to Jubilee Stadium ready to test us.

“It’s a Big Blue and they are always fiery games, as we know. Last time there was a sending off and I’m expecting a this to be a difficult affair.”

MATCH PREVIEW: Tuesday night preview: Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory – April 27

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Bobô continued: “I have been very fortunate in this fixture but I cannot see our run going on forever, which is why we need to be even more vigilant because Victory will make a game of it for sure.

“My own form is good at present and I felt very unlucky not to have two more goals to my total after Saturday’s match against Mariners.

“I feel like I’ve settled back into Sydney very well and I have more goals ahead I am very sure of it.

“I hope it will be on Tuesday night.”

Ahead of his second game in charge of Victory, interim boss Kean is already facing selection dilemmas unwanted after a tide-turning win over Western Sydney.

Victory midfielder Jacob Butterfield said the injection of experience into his side’s starting lineup made a massive difference against the Wanderers – but a series of poorly-timed suspensions for accumulation of yellow cards will keep Robbie Kruse, Callum McManaman and Jake Brimmer out of action against the Sky Blues.

The news comes as left-back Adama Traore continues to serve his suspension after seeing red against City in Matchweek 17. Nick Ansell returns to the fray for Victory, as does Birkan Kirdar, while 19-year-old striker Nishan Velupillay enters the squad ahead of a potential A-League debut.

Speaking to the media in the lead-up to the Big Blue, Kean says his quartet of suspended stars have opened the door for Victory’s young brigade to impress on the big stage.

“We lose a lot of experience, but there’s opportunities for young lads,” he said.

“When these games are coming so thick and fast there’s an opportunity for young guys to show, and to shine, to make an impression with everybody watching.

“They themselves are also playing for their future. So when people drop out of the team, there’s always an opportunity.

“We’ve not got as much experience, but we’ve got loads of energy and lots of legs.

“Hopefully the work we’ve done with them on the training ground this week, they’ll know what they’re doing with the ball and without the ball.”

Kean added: “I think we’ve got to take all the good parts of the last game, and then like I said just work through the bits we think we can improve on.

“We know what type of quality they have. We know the way they play, we’ve worked through that on the training ground this week, and we’re ready.

“I think (knowing Sydney’s formation) lets you do things on the training field that you expect them to do.

“But quality players can also do something one-on-one. So the structure is important, everybody knows their roles without the ball, and then also with the ball.

“We know on transition when we get the ball we know where we’re trying to attack, we know their weaknesses.

Every team has weaknesses, so we’ll focus on that and what we can do to exploit when we have the ball, and hopefully improve on the goals against tally that is vital for us to moving forward.

“They’re a good team. The way they play, the way they’re all almost in sync with each other.

“Their patterns are quite clear to see, it’s difficult to stop. But hopefully we’ve done enough on the training ground this week to nullify them and maximise our chances.”

Match details

Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory
Tuesday, April 27 2021
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Kick-off: 7.35pm AEST
Broadcast: Fox Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports