Kenny Lowe will demand a reaction after Glory’s first loss last week while Tony Popovic is desperate for his Wanderers to switch on at the back. Two attacking sides with a point to prove meet in Perth to conclude Round 5 on Sunday.
Sunday, 6 November 2016
Perth Glory v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-Off: 4:00PM (Local) (7:00PM (AEDT))
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referee 1: Josh Mannella
Assistant Referee 2: Matthew Southern
Fourth Official: Adam Fielding
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on Fox Sports 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live, EON Sports Radio (eonsportsradio.com), Hawkesbury Radio
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvWSW
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au
Perth Glory squad: 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Marc WARREN, 4.Shane LOWRY, 5.Rhys WILLIAMS, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 8.Rostyn GRIFFITHS (c), 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 13.Nicholas FEELY (gk), 14.Chris HAROLD, 15.Brandon WILSON, 16.Joe MILLS, 17.Diego CASTRO, 19.Josh RISDON, 22.Adam TAGGART, 24.Milan SMILJANIC, 33.Liam REDDY (gk)
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 4.Shane LOWRY (promoted), 22.Adam TAGGART (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 1.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 2.Shannon COLE, 3.Jack CLISBY, 5.Brendan HAMILL, 6.Mitch NICHOLS, 7.Steve LUSTICA, 8.Dimas (c), 9.Kerem BULUT, 10.Nicolás MARTÍNEZ, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 13.Bruno PIÑATARES, 14.Jumpei KUSUKAMI, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 17.Artiz BORDA, 18.Robbie CORNTHWAITE, 19.Jacob MELLING, 20.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk)
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 2.Shannon COLE (promoted), 9.Kerem BULUT (promoted), 13.Bruno PIÑATARES (promoted)
Outs: 23.Lachlan SCOTT (not selected)
Unavailable: Nil
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
Perth Glory and Western Sydney both dropped points last weekend.
Glory (fourth on the ladder) were punished late on after they fell asleep at the back from a throw-in, eventually losing 2-1 in Brisbane, while the Wanderers (seventh) invited their opposition back into the match with a loose back pass to draw 2-2 against Central Coast.
Kenny Lowe and Tony Popovic will have addressed these defensive lapses this week, with the two sides’ normally stingy defences having conceded 15 goals between them already this season.
The Wanderers will be buoyed by the fact they’ve never been kept scoreless by Glory and are unbeaten in the last three in this fixture.
Meanwhile Kenny’s charges are in the midst of an eight-game undefeated streak on home soil and have the best shooting accuracy of any team in the league.
Of course they’ll have to do it without their coach on the sideline, with assistant Andrew Ord to again marshal the troops as Lowe serves the second match of his touchline ban.
And hang around after full-time as the Glory women tackle their Wanderers counterparts as part of the evening’s double header at nib Stadium.
OPTA DATA
• Perth Glory are undefeated in their last eight games on home turf (W6, D2); they’ve not enjoyed a longer streak since a stretch of 10 games from 2009 to 2010 (W7, D3).
• Western Sydney Wanderers are undefeated in their last three games against Perth Glory (W2, D1).
• Andy Keogh boasts a 91% shooting accuracy, the best of any player who has had more than five attempts at goal.
• Jumpei Kusukami has hit six shots on target this season (from nine attempts), the most of any player yet to find the back of the net.
Hyundai A-League Round 5 Opta stats
ROUTE TO GOAL
Striker Kerum Bulut has earned a recall to the Wanderers squad having been dropped from the 16 on matchday last weekend.
However super-sub Brendon Santalab could yet retain his starting spot after he found the back of the net inside 90 seconds against the Mariners. His combination with Nico Martinez, who also started last week, looks promising.
And with the promptings of Jumpei Kusukami, there’ll be plenty of creative options from the visitors.
Glory have their own firepower back with Adam Taggart named to make his return from a calf injury after missing the last fortnight.
Nebojsa Marinkovic will be brimming with confidence having notched his second for the season against Brisbane, while Diego Castro will no doubt be eager to open his account from open play.
Given how both teams have been travelling this season there’s sure to be plenty of goals in what shapes as another Sunday night shoot-out in the West.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Rostyn Griffiths. Glory’s skipper was an early casualty from last weekend’s loss to Brisbane after his front tooth was dislodged in a nasty head clash. Thankfully he’s back to looking his best and has been named to lead his side out at nib Stadium.
