After disappointing losses in Round 1 both are seeking redemption and much-needed points as Kenny Lowe seeks to outwit Ernie Merrick in Sunday’s ‘Distance Derby’ in WA.
MATCH DETAILS
Sunday, 18 October 2015
Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-Off: 4:00 PM (Local) (7:00 PM (AEDT))
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referee 1: Josh Mannella
Assistant Referee 2: James Tesoriero
Fourth Official: Adam Fielding
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 720 ABC Perth, ABC Local Radio WA, Grandstand Digital & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live.
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvWEL
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets
Perth Glory squad: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 3.Marc WARREN, 4.Jacob COLLARD, 5.Antony GOLEC, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Gyorgy SANDOR, 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, 20.Guyon FERNANDEZ, 23.Michael THWAITE
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 4.Jacob COLLARD (promoted), 13.Diogo FERREIRA (promoted)
Outs: nil
Unavailable: 2.Alex GRANT (knee – 2 weeks), 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Glen MOSS (GK), 2.Manny MUSCAT, 3.Justin GULLEY, 4.Roly BONEVACIA, 5.Troy DANASKOS, 6.Dylan FOX, 7.Jeffrey SARPONG, 8.Alex RODRIGUEZ, 10.Michael MCGLINCHEY, 11.Kwabena APPIAH, 12.Blake Powell, 13.Albert RIERA, 16.Louis FENTON, 17.Vince LIA, 18.Ben SIGMUND, 19.Tom DOYLE, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 21.Roy KRISHNA
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 3.Justin GULLEY (promoted), 5.Troy DANASKOS (promoted), 6.Dylan FOX (promoted)
Outs: 22.Andrew DURANTE (calf – 1-3 weeks)
Unavailable: nil
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
It may only be Round 2 but after suffering disappointing defeats on the opening weekend, Glory and Phoenix will be desperate for three points to kick start their respective campaigns.
Perth Glory return to nib Stadium ahead of three massive games in seven days, including a Westfield FFA Cup Semi-Final against Melbourne City, and will look to kick it off with a win in the ‘Distance Derby’.
Kenny Lowe’s troops struggled against an energetic Mariners outfit last weekend in Gosford but should be a different proposition in front of ‘The Shed’.
New recruits Diego Castro and Guyon Fernandez were well contained against the Mariners but showed enough to suggest they can be more than handy recruits in 2015/16.
Wellington started life without Johnny Warren Medallist Nathan Burns in forgettable fashion last weekend, suffering a shock 2-1 loss at home to the reborn Newcastle Jets.
But result aside, Ernie Merrick’s men dominated the Novocastrians and will be quietly confident of turning their fortunes around in Western Australia.
Roy Krishna’s penalty miss against the Jets was a game-changer and the Nix will need to be clinical if they are to be a chance at a ground where they have traditionally struggled.
Gun recruit Jeffrey Sarpong played 30 minutes in his Phoenix debut and Ernie Merrick could be tempted to unleash the Dutchman from the outset against the Glory.
OPTA DATA
- Neither of these sides have kept a clean sheet in their last seven encounters in the league with Perth Glory narrowly having a better H2H (W3 D2 L2).
- Roy Krishna scored in both away matches in Perth last season, recording a brace in the most recent encounter with the Glory, which Phoenix won 2-1.
- Perth Glory have scored in 16 of their last 17 matches played at home in the A-League.
- All three fixtures between these two sides last term ended 2-1, Perth winning twice and Wellington winning once.
After losing the prolific Andy Keogh and Jamie Maclaren in the off-season, Glory are banking on a more balanced output in front of goal in 2015/16.
New skipper Richard Garcia has been pushed further forward this season and the veteran showed his eye for goal with a well-taken header against the Mariners last week.
Imports Guyon Fernandez and Diego Castro will start up front while the pacey Chris Harold will be the outlet down the flank. The classy Nebo Marinkovic is always a danger from the set piece too.
Ernie Merrick’s free-flowing Phoenix were frustrated against a well-organised Jets defence and will need to be more clinical against Kenny Lowe’s blue-collar Glory.
Fijian speedster Roy Krishna looms as the main threat for the Nix but expect the likes of Michael McGlinchey and Roly Bonevacia to cause the Glory plenty of problems in the final third.
Exciting Dutch attacker Jeffrey Sarpong is not match-fit and is again likely to be introduced off the bench, with former Wanderers winger Kwabena Appiah another option up top for Ernie Merrick.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Dylan Fox. The 21-year-old central defender signed a two-year deal with the Phoenix after a stellar season with PS4 NPL club Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
