Veteran Perth defender Jamie Harnwell is expecting the Glory to deliver some New Year’s fireworks as they head to Queensland for crucial games against Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Perth produced an impressive 4-2 win over Adelaide just before Christmas to resurrect their season, lifting the Glory off the bottom of the Hyundai A-League table and keeping their slim hopes of finals football alive.
The win was just the tonic Perth needed as the team enjoyed some time off over the Christmas period heading into a big January 3 clash with Gold Coast at Skilled Park, ahead of the toughest assignment in the league four days later, Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
Interim coach Ian Ferguson had called on his side to show ‘Cup Final’ intensity against the Reds and they did so accordingly, but Harnwell says at this stage of the season, it’s time to produce this time and again.
“We really do need to get something out of these two games,” said Harnwell.
“We want to win our home games, that’s a given, and then we’ve got to pick up some points on the road to make sure we’ve got that chance to go to finals.”
“So, yeah, they’re two massive games, if we come away with some points out of those we’ll be happy.”
Having drawn with Central Coast and beaten Adelaide at home over the past few weeks, the Glory’s season is looking up after a dismal period that saw them lose nine consecutive games.
Ferguson’s move to a diamond midfield formation may account slightly for the upturn in form, as it’s allowed Robbie Fowler more freedom in a striking role and enabled Adriano Pellegrino to provide for him, something the 2009 club champion did with aplomb against the Reds, when a superb through ball released Fowler clear on goal.
Having Jamie Coyne patrolling in front of the back four also seems to have tightened the defence, although Harnwell wasn’t so sure.
“It’s not something we did in the first five games,” he said, referring to the club’s five-match unbeaten run to start the season.
“We went out with a flat midfield four and we defended all right.”
“You can talk about tactics and Fergie’s done that a lot, but at the end of the day, it’s how we go out and how we play.”
“If we put pressure on players and we play with that sort of intensity, it doesn’t matter what formation, we’ll go out and win games and I think that’s what we have to remember going forward.”
Although he’s been used up forward numerous times over the last few years, Harnwell has been in exceptional touch filling in at central defence as Andy Todd has been injured and Chris Coyne will only become available on January 1 when the transfer window opens.
“(I’ve been) pretty happy with my form all through the season,” said the 33-year-old.
“Obviously the injuries didn’t help,” he added, referring to an ongoing calf issue he’s had throughout the campaign so far.
“That’s maybe part and parcel of getting a little bit older, just got to manage things a bit better than what I was perhaps at the start of the season.”
“(But) I’ve been happy with the way I’ve been playing, the body’s been holding up well and hopefully that will continue ’til the end of the season.”
