Ebullient Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe won’t let himself or his in-form players get carried away with their unbeaten start to the season.
Glory finds itself on top of the Hyundai A-League table after two rounds following Sunday’s 3-2 win over defending champions Brisbane Roar at nib Stadium.
The inspiring victory was highlighted by a hat-trick from Irish recruit Andy Keogh, sparking wild celebrations from the boisterous Perth crowd at the final whistle.
Lowe went through every known emotion in the book during Sunday’s match, but was quick to play down his team’s position on the table at his post-game media conference.
“It’s two games, let’s not get carried away,” Lowe said.
“It’s a funny old game, football. When you’re up you just keep getting the ball sometimes and when you’re down, you know you’re down so it can swing very quickly so we’re just going to stay balanced.
“It’s a process-driven project … whether (our season) goes north or whether it goes south, nothing will change but we won’t get carried away.”
Lowe was full of praise for Keogh and a host of other new faces at Glory this season, including Mitch Nicholls and Youssouf Hersi.
But the English-born manager reserved his biggest applause for full back Josh Risdon, who restricted the influence of Roar star Thomas Broich as well as making several attacking plays at crucial stages of the match.
“To play against a player of that quality – and he’s top notch – the way Rizzo handled him I thought that was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen the kid have,” Lowe said.
“And I’ve known him since he was about 13 so I guess that’s some statement.”
Risdon rolled his ankle late in the game and was forced from the pitch, but Lowe was hopeful the third-year defender would be fit for next Sunday’s away clash with Adelaide United.
Lowe also hinted he would keep former Newcastle Jets captain Ruben Zadkovich (back) in cotton wool until Glory’s FFA Cup encounter with Melbourne Victory on October 29.
