Perth Glory defender Mark Beevers is keen to turn Macedonia Park into a fortress their Isuzu UTE A-League rivals will fear, with Wellington Phoenix next on the hit list.
With Glory’s regular home ground HBF Park undergoing an upgrade, the club will play their home games at the 4,000-capacity Macedonia Park until March.
Glory marked their first game at the venue with a 2-1 win over defending champions Western United a fortnight ago, and they are aiming to make it two from two against the Phoenix on Friday night.
Beevers, who has played for English clubs Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall, Bolton Wanderers and Peterborough United, wants Glory’s temporary home ground to become a formidable place for rivals to visit.
“It’s key in any season that you need to make your home patch a fortress,” Beevers said.
“We’ll be looking to do that.
We got off to a great start, and with the backing of our fans as well, it will become hostile in there. That really helps us as players on the pitch.
“I’ve played in stadiums before where the front row, it almost seems like they’re on the pitch.
“It’s not a nice place to go away to, but it’s great to play when it’s your home fans.”
Glory go into the game bottom of the ladder with just two wins from the first seven rounds, but they have shown significant improvement since the FIFA Men’s World Cup break.
Wellington are four points further ahead in sixth spot on the congested ladder, and are full of confidence following last week’s 3-1 win over Adelaide United.
It was the Phoenix’s imports who did the damage in that game.
Polish striker Oskar Zawada opened the scoring, Bulgaria international Bozhidar Kraev found the net for the fourth straight match, and Brazilian playmaker Yan Sasse iced the win.
Glory will have to wait a little longer to call on the services of recently returned Socceroos striker Adam Taggart. He is not allowed to play until January’s transfer window opens.
