Rampaging Perth Glory should be looking to boost their goal difference when they host cellar-dwellers Central Coast Mariners on Saturday night.
MATCH DETAILS
Saturday, 12 March 2016
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-Off: 6:40 PM (Local) (9:40 PM (AEDT))
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistant Referee 1: Josh Mannella
Assistant Referee 2: James Tesoriero
Fourth Official: David Bruce
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 9.30pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 720 ABC Perth, 92.5 ABC Central Coast, ABC Local Radio WA, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live. Coast FM 96.3 (Central Coast)
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvCCM
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets
Perth Glory squad: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 4.Shane LOWRY, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Gyorgy SANDOR, 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA, 12.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 19.Josh RISDON, 21.Kosta PETRATOS, 23.Krisztian VADOCZ, 24.Jamal REINER, 29.Aryn WILLIAMS
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 13. Diogo FERREIRA (promoted), 24. Jamal REINERS (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Paul IZZO (gk), 3.Josh ROSE, 4.Jacob POSCOLIERO, 5.Harry ASCROFT, 6.Mitch AUSTIN, 7.Fabio FERREIRA, 8.Nick MONTGOMERY, (c) 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Luis GARCIA, 15.Brad McDONALD, 16.Liam ROSE, 17.Francesco STELLA, 19.Josh BINGHAM, 22.Jake McGING, 23.Tomislav USKOK, 25.Adam BERRY, 28.Matthew FLETCHER, 30.Adam PEARCE (gk)
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 8.Nick MONTGOMERY (return from suspension) 25.Adam BERRY (promoted), 28.Matthew FLETCHER (promoted), 30.Adam PEARCE (gk) (promoted)
Outs: 21.Michael NEILL (suspended – 1 week),13.Alastair BRAY (gk), (knee injury – 1 week)
Unavailable: 2.Storm ROUX (fractured fibula – season)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
Perth (31 points) could rise another position in the A-League table this week if they knock off the Mariners and fifth-placed Melbourne Victory (33) lose away to Brisbane Roar.
Glory effectively turned their season around on the back of a 2-1 victory at home against Central Coast in December, which was only Perth’s second win of the campaign.
Since then, Kenny Lowe’s team has won eight games, drawn three and lost three to break into the top six last week with a 2-0 triumph over Newcastle Jets.
Glory will expect to finish even higher than sixth too, as the Western Australians face clubs currently in the bottom three for four consecutive games – Newcastle last week, the Mariners this week, followed by trips to Wellington Phoenix and the Jets.
After a slight spike in form around the arrival of marquee forward Luis Garcia, the bottom appears to have fallen out of Central Coast’s season.
The Mariners have lost five straight matches and are 10 points adrift at the bottom of the table.
Apart from Ruben Zadkovich (knee), Lowe has a full squad to choose from, while Mariners coach Tony Walmsley has captain Nick Montgomery back from suspension.
Michael Neill (suspended) and Alastair Bray (knee) are unavailable for the visitors.
OPTA DATA
– Perth have won four and drawn one of their last six matches against the Mariners
– The Mariners have failed to score in their last two matches but haven’t gone scoreless in three A-League games since the 2008-09 finals
– Central Coast’s only away win this season came in New Zealand, and haven’t won on the road in Australia in 22 matches
– Glory have scored 11 goals in their past three home games
ROUTE TO GOAL
Only Melbourne City (54 goals) have scored more than Perth (38) this season, which isn’t bad for a team that was held scoreless in four of their opening eight matches.
Since knocking off the Mariners on December 12, Glory have scored 29 goals at 2.07 per game.
In Diego Castro (10 goals, 3 assists), Chris Harold (6, 2) and Andy Keogh (5 goals), Lowe has one of the most dangerous forward trios in the A-League.
The goals are also bringing the crowds back to nib Stadium, with over 10,000 fans having turned up to each of Perth’s past three home fixtures.
Meanwhile, Walmsley has a problem up front with Central Coast having produced just one shot on target in their past two games.
Garcia’s initial impact seems to be waning, with the veteran battling a recent hamstring issue, although Roy O’Donovan could make a difference if the service improves.
The Mariners are severely weakened up front if Mitch Austin isn’t available, with the 24-year-old winger having limped off with a back problem in the first half of last week’s 2-0 loss to Victory.
Austin has been named in the visitors’ squad though.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Andy Keogh. The Irishman’s opening goal against the Jets last week made it four straight games where he has hit the back of the net, while he has five goals in six matches.
FORM LINES
Perth Glory: WWWLW
Central Coast Mariners: LLLLL
PREDICTION
Perth Glory 4-0 Central Coast Mariners
