Perth Glory defender Andy Todd says it’s make or break time for the Western Australian club if its to qualify for the Hyundai A-League finals for the first time.
The veteran former Blackburn Rovers captain was in a ‘take no prisoners’ kind of mood at training ahead of travelling to Melbourne for the first of three clashes against the Victory, Adelaide and Wellington over a seven-day period that could prove vital to Perth’s finals ambitions.
Having just drawn with Sydney in a goal-less stalemate at ME Bank Stadium, the Glory find themselves clinging to a top-six position, just two points ahead of seventh-placed Brisbane and two better than Central Coast (eighth) and North Queensland (ninth).
But to consolidate their finals chances, the Glory will have to improve markedly on the road, having won just two away games this season. They will also have to do it against a Melbourne side back on its own patch and hurting from two consecutive losses.
“We’re by no means secured a place in the finals yet,” Todd said. “There’s no comfort zone.”
“This week’s a big week. This week could make or break us; it’s a very important week.”
“You could be well in the finals or you could be well out of them you know.”
“That’s the way leagues go, everyone can beat each other, it’s very tight and I think it will go right to the wire who’s in or out of the finals.”
The Glory have been boosted for their trip to Melbourne by the signing of Scottish attacking midfielder Steven McGarry on Wednesday.
Former North Queensland striker Daniel McBreen will also link up with the club in Victoria after leaving the Fury earlier in the week in a trade for Glory defender Jimmy Downey.
The Glory will also reportedly take an extended squad to Melbourne with Wayne Srhoj and Victor Sikora flying east, despite battling knee and thigh injuries respectively.
Perth central defender Chris Coyne is also expected to play despite undergoing a lightning trip to China to trial for Shandong Luneng in the hope of securing a loan deal at the club that could see Coyne earn a berth in Australia’s World Cup squad.
Despite forming a quality partnership with Coyne at the back that’s seen Perth concede just 22 goals this term, the third-best in the competition, Todd believes the club has the depth to cover for Coyne if he crosses to Shandong.
“You know if Chris goes or he stays, that’s what we have to deal with,” Todd said. “That’s the cards you’re dealt with and we have to get on with it.”
“But Jamie Harnwell can come in there, Jamie Coyne can come in to do a good job there, a couple of weeks ago he was playing alongside me, so we just have to get on with it don’t we.”
