Hyundai A-League preview: Glory v Sydney FC

Sydney head west after their first defeat of the season. Can they bounce back and continue their incredible away form against a Glory side with new Socceroo Josh Risdon back in town.

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MATCH DETAILS

Saturday, 21 November 2015

nib Stadium, Perth

Kick-Off: 4:30 PM (Local) (7:30 PM (AEDT))

TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand)

Radio Broadcast: 720 ABC Perth, 702 ABC Sydney, ABC Local Radio WA, ABC Local Radio NSW, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live.

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvSYD

To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets

Perth Glory squad: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Marc WARREN, 5.Antony GOLEC, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA (c), 12.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD, 15.Hagi GLIGOR, 16.Sidnei SCIOLA, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 19.Josh RISDON, 23.Michael THWAITE, 24.Jamal REINERS, 25.Jacob COLLARD, 29.Aryn WILLIAMS

***two to be omitted***

Ins: 14.Chris HAROLD (return from injury), 18.Mitch OXBORROW (return from injury), 19.Josh RISDON (return from international duty)

Outs: 20.Guyon FERNANDEZ (foot – 1 week)

Unavailable: 6.Dino DJULBIC (ankle – 6 weeks), 7.Gyorgy SANDOR (ankle – 1 week) 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite)

Sydney FC squad: 1.Vedran JANJETOVIC, 2.Seb RYALL, 3.Alex GERSBACH, 4.Zac ANDERSON, 5.Matt JURMAN, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Christopher NAUMOFF, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE, 18.Matt SIMON, 20.Ivan NECEVSKI, 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.George BLACKWOOD, 27.Mickael TAVARES.

***two to be omitted***

Ins: 4.Zac ANDERSON (promoted), 7.Andrew HOOLE (return from international duty), 11.Christopher NAUMOFF (return from international duty)

Outs: 19.Jacques FATY (personal reasons)

Unavailable: 22.Ali ABBAS (Knee – indefinite)

Referee: Jarred Gillett

Assistant Referee 1: Ashley Beecham

Assistant Referee 2: Josh Mannella

Fourth Official: Adam Fielding

BLUFFER’S GUIDE

Glory will be relieved to be back on home soil after what’s been a tough couple of weeks on the road.

Not only did they miss out on silverware in the Westfield FFA Cup final in Melbourne but were then edged out away at Brisbane Roar last weekend.

Two long trips for zero return was tough on them. And one win from five matches in the league means Glory are already playing catch-up.

The visit of the Sky Blues then probably comes at the worst possible time.

Sydney have looked nigh on impossible to beat on their travels over the last year. The stats back it up. They have 10 straight regular season wins on the road and are unbeaten in 17 straight away games.

Graham Arnold’s troops are coming off their first loss of the season last weekend against Melbourne Victory, so expect a response.

Big outs for both clubs with Dino Djulbic and Guyon Fernandez unavailable for Glory, while Jacques Faty is out for the Sky Blues.

Tempering that, though, is the return of Josh Risdon and Chris Harold for the home side while Andrew Hoole and Chris Naumoff are back for Sydney.

OPTA DATA

Sydney FC have won their last 10 away matches in the Hyundai A-League regular season; an all-time league record.
Perth’s Antony Golec and Dino Djulbic have made the joint most blocks in the Hyundai A-League this season (7 – tied with Mariner Jake McGing).
The Sky Blues have hit the woodwork more times than any other Hyundai A-League side this season (4).
Glory has only kept one clean sheet in their last 21 Hyundai A-league home matches – conceding over two goals in eight of the last 10 at home.

ROUTE TO GOAL

Glory will be compact and look to hit on the counter while Sydney will look to dominate possession, spray the passes from side to side and hurt the home side with their quality.

Goals are proving hard to come by for Glory. With just six so far this season they have the equal worst attack in the Hyundai A-League with winless Adelaide United.

Imports Guyon Fernandez and Diego Castro haven’t settled fully yet, while injuries certainly haven’t helped their cause.

The shining light has been – aptly-named for this clash – Sidnei Sciola. The Brazilian’s energy and pace is a real point of difference for Glory, whose game is built on organization and quick transition.

Sydney’s attacking game was breath-taking last week, especially on the flanks. Fullbacks Rhyan Grant and especially Alex Gersbach got forward at will and played in some teasing crosses.

Look for the visitors to exploit Glory in that avenue again. The battle between young Aussie fullbacks Gersbach and new Socceroo Josh Risdon will be tantalizing.

And you wouldn’t bet against Shane Smeltz having something special in store for his old club as well.