A cautious Ian Ferguson has urged his Perth Glory side to maintain the quality form that’s taken them into second spot on the Hyundai A-League table.
A cautious Ian Ferguson has urged his Perth Glory side to maintain the quality form that’s taken them into second spot on the Hyundai A-League table.
The Glory have taken maximum points so far this season through impressive victories over Adelaide United and Melbourne Heart, to sit just behind Brisbane Roar on goal difference heading into Sunday’s home clash with Wellington.
It’s a far cry from last year, where Perth went unbeaten over the first five rounds before slumping badly, winning just two more games for the entire season to finish second last.
With a poor last season still somewhat fresh in the memory, it’s probably no surprise reports have emerged saying Ian Ferguson’s position – for better or worse – will be reviewed after week 10, as the Glory coach is only contracted until the end of the campaign.
And, with every result counting towards his future job prospects, it’s no wonder Ferguson feels he’s still sitting in the hottest of seats.
“I’m delighted, but it’s still a hot seat,” said Ferguson on Friday.
“Let’s be honest, it’s only two games. We’ve got six points which is fantastic … but there’s always pressure here.”
“This is a big club. The Hyundai A-League needs a good Perth to be strong.”
“That’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to make this place a fortress the way it was in the old national league.”
“We’re working hard. We’re trying to drill that into the boys week in, week out that nib (Stadium) is going to be a fortress for us, and they’ve taken that up.”
Unlike other coaches, who often want to put a disappointing previous season behind them, Ferguson said he was happy to use it as a warning to his players.
“I don’t want to dwell too much on it,” he said.
“I do mention it because I believe if you don’t mention it and we don’t learn anything, then we’re wasting our time.”
“We’ve got to make sure we don’t make the same mistakes as last year, and that’s getting carried away.”
“The hype that was going on, people were saying we were going to win the league and we ended up second bottom.”
“That’s something we’ve got to take on board. I know it’s an old cliche, but we’ve got to take it one game at a time.”
Ferguson said he’ll be sticking with the same starting XI that helped defeat Melbourne Heart 2-1 at AAMI Park last weekend.
This means central defender Josh Mitchell, so good in the opening game, will start from the bench after he dropped out of last week’s side with an ankle injury, with his place taken by former Qantas Socceroo Chris Coyne, who was playing his first Glory game since February 2010.
Another former Qantas Socceroo in Mile Sterjovski will be forced to fight his way back into the side from Perth’s National Youth League team, which plays the AIS on Saturday.
There will be no shortage of class in the Youth side though, as Sterjovski will be joined by Steve Pantelidis, Evan Burger, Adam Taggart, Josh Risdon and Jesse Makarounas.
