Perth will be desperate to return to the winners’ circle and to reclaim some momentum heading into the finals series in its match against lowly Brisbane.
Date: Saturday, February 13
Kick-off: 4pm local (7pm AEDT)
Venue: ME Stadium, Perth
TV and Radio: Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and 1 HD and Sky Sport 2 (delayed). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com.au
Head-to-head
Played 14: Wins: Perth Glory 2, Brisbane Roar 9. Draws: 3
Previous meeting
Perth Glory 1, Brisbane Roar 1, ME Stadium, Round 17, December 2009
Past five matches:
Perth Glory:
Round 23: Melbourne Victory 6, Perth Glory 2, Etihad Stadium
Round 19: Adelaide United 2, Perth Glory 3, Hindmarsh Stadium
Round 24: Perth Glory 2, Wellington Phoenix 0, Members Equity Stadium
Round 25: Perth Glory 3, Central Coast Mariners 1, Members Equity Stadium
Round 26: Sydney FC 3, Perth Glory 2, Parramatta Stadium
Brisbane Roar:
Round 22: Wellington Phoenix 3, Brisbane Roar 1, Westpac Stadium
Round 23: Brisbane Roar 0, Newcastle Jets 2, Suncorp Stadium
Round 24: North Queensland 1, Brisbane Roar 1, Dairy Farmers Stadium
Round 25: Brisbane Roar 1, Sydney FC 0, Suncorp Stadium
Round 26: Adelaide United 2, Brisbane Roar 0, Hindmarsh Stadium
Analysis:
Perth will be watching with great interest when Wellington hosts Central Coast on Friday night. If the Mariners can cause an upset and beat the in-form Phoenix then the Glory has a chance to nab the all-important fourth spot by beating the Brisbane Roar the following afternoon.
Regardless of what scenario unfolds, Perth will be desperate to return to the winners’ circle and to reclaim some momentum heading into the finals series.
After recording wins over the Reds and the Mariners, the Glory hit a speed hump last week, losing 2-3 to Sydney FC.
The undermanned line-up – missing Jacob Burns, Mile Sterjovski, Tando Velaphi, Victor Sikora, Branko Jelic and Adriano Pellegrino – tried to gleam a point out of the game by drawing level with Sydney twice thanks to goals to Wayne Srhoj and Daniel McBreen.
But John Aloisi’s second half brace stopped them in their tracks.
Coach Dave Mitchell has included five of the six players missing from last week but there’s still some doubt over Burns’ hamstring and Sterjovski’s back. Chris Coyne has also been named but he suffered a corked thigh at training this week and might be in some doubt.
Brisbane has made just one change for the clash with suspended captain Matt McKay replaced by Mitch Nichols.
The Roar has rolled out the ‘play for pride’ cliché this week after their slim finals aspirations were dashed by 10th-placed Adelaide United last Friday.
There was a lack of fire in the performance and no doubt coach Ange Postecoglou was disappointed his side couldn’t produce the goods in a must-win match, especially after beating Sydney the week before.
Brisbane has a good record against Perth and this will be Sergio van Dijk’s last game for the Roar but even his individual brilliance won’t be able to get his side across the line against the Glory – especially if they are playing for fourth spot.
Perth Glory squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 2.Danny McBreen, 3.Jamie COYNE, 4.Andy TODD, 5.Jamie HARNWELL, 6.Chris COYNE, 7. Jacob BURNS, 10. Wayne SRHOJ, 11. Branko JELIC, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 13.Scott BULLOCH, 14. Steven McGARRY, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17.Todd HOWARTH, 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI, 20.Aleks VRTESKI (gk), 21.Mile STERJOVSKI, 23.Andrija JUKIC, 28. Tommy AMPHLETT
In: Tando VELAPHI, Jacob BURNS, Branko JELIC, Adriano PELLEGRINO, Mile Sterjovski (all return from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Viktor SIKORA (Thigh – 1 week)
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Matt HAM (gk), 2. Andrew PACKER, 3. Luke DEVERE, 4. Pieter COLLEN, 7. Michael ZULLO, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 10. Steven BRYCE, 11. REINALDO, 13. HENRIQUE, 14. Adam SAROTA, 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 20. Griffin McMASTER (gk), 21. Tommy OAR, 22. Ivan FRANJIC
In: Mitch NICHOLS (promoted)
Out: Matt McKAY (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: Nil
