Perth Glory’s tough one-goal loss to Adelaide United at home on Boxing Day leave the finals a forlorn hope, but the better form and big crowd show the club is improving well.
The Glory had a miserable start to the season with five losses and a draw from the first seven games and recorded Perth’s lowest Hyundai A-League crowds in the process, but with eight points from four games before Friday’s loss to Adelaide, things were looking on the improve.
Despite the loss, little changed against the Reds as the Glory created the better chances but just couldn’t find the back of the net. Eugene Dadi blew the best of the chances, including terrific looks with boot and head in either half that could have earned the Glory at least a point.
A crowd of 12,581 turned up for the game, though, which is the biggest Perth turnout since the Hyundai A-League’s first season.
Perth can’t afford a loss in its last four games against Central Coast, Melbourne, Newcastle and Queensland, and with only the Victory game at home that will be tough, but coach Dave Mitchell isn’t giving up hope yet.
“We had the better the chances, there’s no doubt about that, but they didn’t let us play as well as we had been. That’s a credit to them but it’s disappointing that we didn’t get anything out of it because it was a great crowd that got behind us,” Mitchell said.
“It’s going to be really difficult obviously and we’ve only won once away from home with three of our last four games away. There might still be a chance, but we have to win next week, and the week after and week after that.”
Former Dutch international Victor Sikora made his Hyundai A-League debut and in limited game time showed flashes of brilliance and will start against Central Coast on New Year’s Eve at Bluetongue Stadium.
“He came on, was enthusiastic but we couldn’t get the ball to him. Credit to Adelaide for stopping us playing in midfield and getting the ball out to Victor. When he got it, he showed he could cause problems and he was enthusiastic and trying to get the crowd involved,” he said.
“He’s a very good player and it’s great that he has come and joined us. He’s not match fit and hasn’t played for a while, so I thought out wide was a good place to play him. He will start next week, for sure.”
The Wednesday clash in Gosford gives the Glory a short turnaround and Wayne Srhoj and Marc Anthony picked up injuries against Adelaide and will be in doubt, but captain Jamie Coyne should return.
Stand-in captain Jamie Harnwell looked to have done enough to score the equaliser in the 90th minute and thought his header was beyond Reds ‘keeper Eugene Galekovic, and he’s disappointed not to take a point from the game but pleased in the side’s performance in front of the big crowd.
“I was coming from behind a defender and he probably didn’t see it coming, but how he got down to it, I don’t know. I was almost starting to turn away to celebrate. He is one of the most consistent keepers in the league and a major reason why Adelaide is top of the league,” Harnwell said.
“Hopefully we can replicate that performance because apart from a goal, we gave the crowd everything that we possibly could. It would have been great to walk away with a result, but all the character, ability and effort was there for them to see and hopefully they will be back for the final home game.”
