Preview: Wanderers v Glory

The Wanderers will be out to put their derby disappointment behind them while FFA Cup final-bound Glory is hoping to build on their recent wins. It’s all to play for at Pirtek on Sunday.

MATCH DETAILS

Sunday, 1 November 2015

Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta

Kick-Off: 5:00 PM (Local) (5:00 PM (AEDT))

TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 5.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand)

Radio Broadcast: 702 ABC Sydney, 720 ABC Perth & ABC Local Radio NSW, ABC Local Radio WA, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live.

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #WSWvPER

To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets

Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 1.Dean BOUZANIS (GK), 3.Scott JAMIESON, 4.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY (c), 5.Brendan HAMILL, 6.Mitch NICHOLS, 8.DIMAS, 9.Federico PIOVACCARI, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 16.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 17.ALBERTO, 18.ANDREU, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 20.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 21.Jacob PEPPER

**One to be omitted**

Ins: 11.Brendon SANTALAB (promoted), 15.Kearyn BACCUS (promoted)

Outs: 7.Romeo CASTELEN (hamstring – 2 weeks)

Unavailable: 2.Shannon COLE (groin – 1 week)

Perth Glory: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Alex Grant, 3.Marc WARREN, 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, 16.Sidnei SCIOLA, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Guyon FERNANDEZ 23.Michael THWAITE 24.Jamal REINERS.

**Two to be omitted**

Ins: 5.Antony GOLEC (promoted), 24.Jamal REINERS (promoted),

Outs: nil

Unavailable: Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite)

Referee: Matthew Conger

Assistant Referee 1: Allyson Flynn

Assistant Referee 2: Lance Greenshields

Fourth Official: Katie Patterson

BLUFFER’S GUIDE

It might only be Round 4 but the pressure is building at Wanderland.

Yes it’s a new squad, yes they do need time to gel and yes they have been playing some good football but you sense patience is starting to wear out amongst supporters.

The Wanderers are where they were for much of last season, near the foot of the ladder and struggling for results.

A fourth game without a win – and in front of their home fans – simply cannot happen.

While things were looking gloomy for Glory a little over a week ago, back-to-back wins in both the Westfield FFA Cup and A-League means confidence should be flowing through the squad.

And after knocking the Wanderers out of the FFA Cup earlier this year, Kenny Lowe and Co. will be feeling good as they walk out at Pirtek. .

There’s a stronger spine to Glory, especially since Diogo Ferreira assumed a holding midfield role, and he could again be pivotal to stop the threat of former Perth playmaker Mitch Nichols.

Skipper Richard Garcia was superb against the Reds last weekend and will want to continue that form if Glory is to make it back-to-back wins.

Both sides have a few players in their squad who have played for both clubs which always adds a bit of extra feeling and should make for a full-blooded contest at Pirtek.

OPTA DATA

Perth failed to score in four of their first six matches against the Wanderers, although they have scored seven in the previous three, winning on each occasion.
The Wanderers have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 16 Hyundai A-League matches, their longest ever run.
Glory have the best shot conversion rate in the Hyundai A-League so far this campaign (26.1 percent), compared to Western Sydney who have the worst (6.1 percent).
Injured Wanderers winger Romeo Castelen has completed the most dribbles so far in this Hyundai A-League campaign (12); five more than any other player.

ROUTE TO GOAL

The Wanderers attack has misfired so far this season, though they play with three strikers (two wide, one central). While they have had the second most shots in the Hyundai A-League, their conversion rate is the worst at just 6%.

Will Popovic persevere with the same faces in the belief it will turn around or is it time for change? The Wanderers boss will be forced into at least one alteration due to Romeo Castelen’s hamstring injury, opening the door for Dario Vidosic to make his first start.

Glory found their goal-scoring boots against the Reds last week and you can bet Kenny Lowe will use a similar counter-attacking style in this one. Perth were devastating in transition, particularly skipper Richard Garcia who set up two of their three goals.

New recruits Guyon Fernandez and Diego Castro both scored their first goals for the club and should be buoyed getting that monkey off their back.

WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?

Romeo Castelen. The Wanderers winger will miss at least the next 2-3 weeks after an injury in the derby.

NEWS: Castelen out ‘for 2-3 weeks’ as Popa stays positive