The Glory have been handed a huge boost for this important clash with striker Andy Keogh cleared to take his place on the home side’s teamsheet against the improving Adelaide United.
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MATCH DETAILS
Saturday, 9 January 2016
Perth Glory v Adelaide United
nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-Off: 6:40 PM (Local) (9:40 PM (AEDT))
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Assistant Referee 1: Josh Mannella
Assistant Referee 2: Matthew Southern
Fourth Official: David Bruce
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 9.30pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 720 ABC Perth, 891 ABC Adelaide, ABC Local Radio WA, ABC Local Radio SA, Grandstand Digital, online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvADL
To purchase tickets visit: www.a-league.com.au/tickets
Perth Glory squad: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 5.Antony GOLEC, 7.Gyorgy SANDOR, 9.Andy KEOGH, 11.Richard GARCIA (c), 12.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD, 15.Hagi GLIGOR, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 19.Josh RISDON, 23.Michael THWAITE, 24.Jamal REINERS, 25.Jacob COLLARD, 28.Joe KNOWLES, 29.Aryn WILLIAMS
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 9.Andy KEOGH (pending international clearance), 13.Diogo FERREIRA (returns from injury), 25.Jacob COLLARD (promoted)
Outs: 3.Marc WARREN (suspended)
Unavailable: 6.Dino DJULBIC (ankle – 6-8 weeks), 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite), 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC (hamstring – 1 week), 16.Sidnei SCIOLA (quad – 2 weeks)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk) (c), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 7.PABLO SANCHEZ, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Bruce DJITE, 14.George MELLS, 16.Craig GOODWIN, 17.Mate DUGANDZIC, 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 19.Eli BABALJ, 20.John HALL (gk), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 25.Ruon TONGYIK
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 19.Eli BABALJ (returns from injury), 25.Ruon TONGYIK (promoted from NYL)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 5.Osama MALIK (quadricep – 1 week), 24.Bruce KAMAU (hamstring – 2 weeks)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
Irish striker Andy Keogh could be brought straight into Kenny Lowe’s starting line-up to face Adelaide after the Glory released Guyon Fernandez on Thursday.
The mutual termination of Fernandez’s contract means Perth have an import spot open for the rest of the 2015-16 A-League season, allowing them to bring Keogh into their squad.
The 29-year-old, who spent the 2014-15 campaign in Western Australia, had already been signed on a two-year deal starting from next season.
But with the Glory sitting second-bottom after 13 games this season and with just 14 goals scored, Keogh’s marksmanship will be a boon to Lowe and Co.
The Irishman scored 12 goals in 27 games for Perth last term.
The Glory need another spark after failing to win in their past three games, although their draws against Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory were promising.
Last week they lost 2-1 away to leaders Brisbane Roar but in Adelaide – unbeaten in five matches – they face one of the form teams of the A-League at nib Stadium.
The Reds will arrive in Perth after a scoreless draw at the Wanderers last week, while Guillermo Amor’s Adelaide sit two spots and two points ahead of the Glory prior to the fixture.
OPTA DATA KEY STATS
– Adelaide have won three and drawn one of their last five matches against the Glory
– Perth have won four and drawn three of their last eight home fixtures against the Reds
– The Glory are undefeated in their last five home fixtures in the A-League (W3, D2), their longest streak since December 2014 (8 games unbeaten – 8 wins)
– Each of Adelaide’s last two away matches have ended in nil-all draws, never before have they kept clean sheets in three consecutive away fixtures
ROUTE TO GOAL
The departure of Fernandez after just five appearances and one goal should see Keogh at least involved off the bench against Adelaide – assuming his international clearance from Thai club Ratchaburi comes through on time.
Keogh is a classic poacher with enough pace to get in behind defences, so look for him to get on the end of Diego Castro through-balls if the Reds push high.
Castro has been very impressive for the past month, with the Spaniard scoring three goals in four games and starting to build a rapport with the likes of Richard Garcia and Jamal Reiners.
But Lowe needs to tighten Perth’s defence, with the Glory having failed to keep a clean sheet for three games in a row.
Perth sit seventh in the A-League for goals conceded (20), ninth for duels won (1096) and ninth for shots face (195).
The Glory will also need to smarten up in their defensive penalty area as no team has had more goals scored against them from the spot this season, with Perth conceding four.
Adelaide (3) have scored more penalties than all but Central Coast Mariners this term.
The visitors may struggle to take advantage of Perth’s leaky defence, however, as Amor’s men sit ninth for their conversion rate – only 10.3 per cent of Adelaide’s shots have resulted in goals.
Sergio Cirio (13 games, 1 goal) and Bruce Djite (10, 0) need to produce more in the final third.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Perth Glory. The club were desperate to find a way to register Keogh for the rest of the season and releasing the injury-prone Fernandez could spark a run to the finals.
FORM LINES
Perth Glory: WWDDL
Adelaide United: WWDWD
PREDICTION
Perth Glory 1-1 Adelaide United
