Match preview: Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets

There could be a party atmosphere inside HBF Park for this one, with Perth Glory potentially securing the Premiership on Sunday night.

If Sydney FC drop points in the Derby against Wanderers on Saturday, a win for Tony Popovic’s men would guarantee the Premiers’ Plate heads to the west.

And there is probably no opponent Glory would rather play than the Newcastle Jets as they chase their first piece of Hyundai A-League silverware.

Their record against the club from the Hunter Valley is phenomenal.

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TALKING POINTS: Three-way battle for fourth spot

Glory have lost just two of the last 22 clashes between the clubs, while the Jets have not scored a goal against them in the last three meetings.

That is the size of the task facing Ernie Merrick’s troops as they head across the country with their finals hopes already all-but-over.

If they are to sneak into the top six, the Jets would need to win all three of their remaining games and hope one of Phoenix, Adelaide United or Melbourne City lose all three of theirs.

Both sides head into this clash in winning form, with Glory brushing aside Central Coast Mariners 3-0 last weekend, while the Jets soared over Western Sydney Wanderers 3-2.

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Key Opta stats

  • Perth Glory have scored in 16 straight Hyundai A-League games against the Newcastle Jets (W12, D2, L2,), last drawing a blank on October 20, 2013.
  • Newcastle Jets are looking to register back-to-back Hyundai A-League wins for the first time since April 2018.
  • Glory need clean sheets in their final two regular-season games at HBF Park for 2018/2019 to equal a record for fewest goals conceded at home in a Hyundai A-League season (12, 2013/2014).

Ins and outs

Perth Glory squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 3.Jason DAVIDSON, 4.Shane LOWRY, 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 9.Andy KEOGH, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 13.Matthew SPIRANOVIC, 16.Tomislav MRCELA, 17.Diego CASTRO, 20.Jake BRIMMER, 21.Jacob ITALIANO, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 23.Scott NEVILLE, 27.JUANDE, 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 88.Neil KILKENNY **two to be omitted**

Ins: 21.Jacob ITALIANO (promoted), 22.Fabio FERREIRA (promoted), 16.Tomislav MRCELA (promoted)
Outs: 19.Chris IKONOMIDIS (shoulder injury – 1 week)
Unavailable: 2.Alex GRANT (abdominal injury – 1 week),

Newcastle Jets squad: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimi PETRATOS, 9.Roy O¹DONOVAN, 10.Ronald VARGAS, 11.Kwabena APPIAH, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 14.Kaine SHEPPARD, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.Matt RIDENTON, 24.Joe CHAMPNESS, 32.Angus THURGATE, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY **two to be omitted**

Ins: 11.Kwabena APPIAH (promoted), 22.Lachlan JACKSON (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 3.Jason HOFFMAN (ankle ¬– TBC)

Glory defender Scott Neville

How to watch

Tune in to FOX SPORTS 507 to watch the final game of Round 25, which kicks off at 7.00pm (AEST) on Sunday. You can also stream it live on the MyFootball Live App, or subscribe to Kayo Sports.

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Tickets

CLICK HERE to get your spot inside HBF Park for what could be a historic night for Glory.

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