Dave Mitchell believes it would take a ‘Houdini act’ from the Brisbane Roar to prevent Perth Glory making the finals for the first time after its crushing 3-1 win over Central Coast.
On a perfect afternoon for football at ME Bank Stadium, the Glory made their first finals appearance all but certain as a Daniel McBreen-inspired Perth fired in three first-half goals against a shell-shocked Central Coast.
The Mariners may be Perth’s bogey side, having lost just once to the Glory in 15 games, but there was nothing Lawrie McKinna’s men could do to prevent the hosts chalking up the points this time around.
Perth’s third consecutive win sees it climb into fourth position on the A-League table, but there remains a slight mathematical chance it could slip up over the season’s final two rounds.
That’s because Brisbane’s surprise win over Sydney on Saturday night means the seventh-placed Roar are just six points adrift of Perth, albeit 11 behind in goal difference, with two matches remaining.
The sums are against Brisbane, but it was enough to prevent Mitchell pouring the champagne just yet.
“There’s nine or 10 goals, that is the difference,” Mitchell said.
“(But) we don’t concede that many goals and we’ve got to play them at home as well, so I think it will be a Houdini act if they (the Roar) actually got in from here.”
Instead Mitchell focused on another impressive performance from his side, coming off solid wins against Adelaide and Wellington the previous week.
Having been thrashed by Melbourne 6-2 on January 16, Perth did it tough as it took on the Reds and Phoenix in close succession.
The three games in seven days over this period saw the squad subsequently hit by injuries to key players Jacob Burns, Mile Sterjovski and goalkeeper Tando Velaphi this week.
But Mitchell was overjoyed his depleted squad still did the job, the Glory coach putting McBreen’s name up for higher honours after seeing him score twice in the first 11 minutes against Central Coast, taking his tally to four goals in just 16 days since crossing from the Fury.
“Based on the performances he’s had since being here we would be certainly recommending him to (Socceroos coach) Pim Verbeek as a target man,” Mitchell said when asked about the 32-year-old, who’s on loan from North Queensland until the end of the season.
“He’s unselfish, works hard, holds the ball up well and scores goals. As a big target man for the national team, I’d give him a big tick for sure.”
McBreen’s performance was a backhanded compliment to Mariners boss Lawrie McKinna, who’s recruiting of McBreen for next season saw the striker sidelined somewhat by Fury coach Ian Ferguson, ultimately leading to his loan in Perth.
But McKinna had nothing but praise for the striker, despite seeing him help knock the Mariners out of the playoffs for the first time in competition history.
“If Daniel had not put in at 100 percent effort I would have been disappointed in the boy,” McKinna graciously said.
“The reason we signed him has been for his good work and to me that’s pleasing that he’s worked out.”
“Obviously disappointed that he scored two crucial goals but he went out with that effort and professionalism and we know what to expect when he comes here next year.”
