Perth Glory have the chance to rise into the top four this weekend but must do so away to Adelaide United – one of their least favourite Hyundai A-League road trips.
Friday, 10 February 2017
Adelaide United v Perth Glory
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Kick-Off: 7:20PM (Local) (7:50PM (AEDT))
Referee: Chris Beath
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream
Assistant Referee 2: Paul Cetrangolo
Fourth Official: Daniel Elder
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on Fox Sports 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT), SBS VICELAND from 7.30pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: ABC Adelaide, ABC Radio SA, Grandstand Digital Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live, Crocmedia A-League Live (www.facebook.com/A-leagueLIVERadio)
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #ADLvPER
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au
Adelaide United squad: 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 5.Taylor REGAN, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Sergio CIRIO, 12.Mark OCHIENG, 13.Marc MARINO, 14.George MELLS, 15.Ben WARLAND, 16.Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIC, 18.Riley McGREE, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.John HALL (gk), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 24.Jordan O’DOHERTY, 30.Daniel MARGUSH (gk)
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 14.George MELLS (promoted), 15.Ben WARLAND (promoted), 17.Nikola MILEUSNIC (promoted), 30.Daniel MARGUSH (gk) (promoted)
Outs: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (shoulder – indefinite), 8.Isaìas (suspended – 1 match)
Unavailable: 22.Ryan KITTO (hamstring – 6 weeks), 23.Jordan ELSEY (knee – season)
Perth Glory squad: 3.Marc WARREN, 5.Rhys WILLIAMS, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 8.Rostyn GRIFFITHS (c), 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 13.Nick FEELY (gk), 14.Chris HAROLD, 15.Brandon WILSON, 16.Joe MILLS, 17.Diego CASTRO, 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Aryn WILLIAMS, 22.Adam TAGGART, 23.Kosta PETRATOS, 24.Milan SMILJANIC, 33.Liam REDDY (gk)
**two to be omitted**
Ins 3.Marc WARREN (promoted), 20.Aryn WILLIAMS (promoted), 23.Kosta PETRATOS (promoted), 33.Liam REDDY (gk) (returns from suspension)
Out: 4.Shane LOWRY (quad – 1 week), 30.Jordan THURTELL (gk) (not selected)
Unavailable: 2.Alex GRANT (foot – 2 weeks), 18.Mitch OXBORROW (foot – 2 weeks)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
Perth are aiming for a second straight win over the Reds on Friday night – something they haven’t achieved in almost five years – but to do that they must end their Coopers Stadium hoodoo.
Adelaide haven’t lost in their past six home games against Glory, while Coopers Stadium is one of Perth’s least favourite A-League venues.
Glory have won just four of 18 games there with only Etihad Stadium (0), Suncorp Stadium and Central Coast Stadium (both 2) proving less fruitful for the Western Australians of the regular A-League venues.
But in Perth’s favour is that Adelaide will be severely undermanned for the Round 19 fixture.
On top of captain and goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic missing this match with a shoulder injury, Adelaide coach Guillermo Amor will also be without suspended midfielder Isaias.
Plus new signings Kim Jae-sung, Eli Babalj and Baba Diawara aren’t ready to pull on a red shirt just yet.
On the other hand, Glory coach Kenny Lowe has few big concerns in terms of personnel.
Shane Lowry (quadriceps), Alex Grant (foot) and Mitch Oxborrow (foot) are likely to be fit in the coming weeks, while goalkeeper Liam Reddy returns from suspension for the trip to South Australia.
Without Reddy, Perth’s shaky defence – they’re level with Central Coast Mariners for the most goals conceded this term – was given a scare in a 3-2 win over Newcastle Jets last week.
If Glory can notch their fourth win in six weeks they will rise above Melbourne City into fourth spot – at least temporarily – while Adelaide are looking for just their third victory of the campaign.
Amor’s side lost 2-1 against the Mariners in Canberra last week.
OPTA DATA
– Perth have won three and drawn one of their last five A-League fixtures, though each of those three victories came on home soil
– No team has conceded more goals than Adelaide (19) in the second half of matches this season
– Glory have a cross accuracy of 31.8%, the best of any team, while their 111 successful crosses are the second-most of any team in the A-League
– Nebojsa Marinkovic has a crossing accuracy of 41.3%, the best of any player who has registered at least 20 successful crosses so far this season
ROUTE TO GOAL
Adelaide are the worst attacking team in the A-League in 2016/17 with just 15 goals in 18 matches.
The Reds’ leading scorers – Sergi Guardiola and Henrique (3 goals each) – both left the club last month, and their replacements Babalj and Diawara haven’t been named in the squad to face Glory.
It doesn’t bode well for the hosts.
Meanwhile, only the top-two teams – Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory – have scored more than Perth’s 31 goals this season.
Adam Taggart kick-started Glory versus Newcastle last week to join Andy Keogh as his team’s leading marksman on eight goals, while Diego Castro’s brace saw the 2016 Johnny Warren Medallist reach six for the season.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Kim Jae-sung. One of two new faces at Adelaide training this week – Diawara has yet to arrive in Australia as he awaits a visa – the Korean revealed the lure of playing abroad and in the AFC Champions League saw him commit to the Reds.
FORM LINES
Adelaide United: LWLDL
Perth Glory: WDWLW
PREDICTION
Adelaide United 1-2 Perth Glory
