Perth Glory goalkeeper Liam Reddy believes his side’s clean sheet against league-leaders Sydney FC lays a platform for a return to winning ways.
The Glory remain in fifth place on the Hyundai A-League table but claimed their first point away to the Sky Blues in seven attempts as they battled out a 0-0 draw at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday evening.
After stifling the league-leaders for extended periods of the contest, Tony Popovic’s side rode their luck late as Sydney failed to capitalise on late one-on-one opportunities for Milos Ninkovic and Trent Buhagiar.
Speaking to Fox Sports, Reddy said he felt his side’s first shut-out since January is a welcome development despite the result now extending their winless run to three games.
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“I think it was a good point away from home considering we’ve had a tough couple of weeks,” Reddy explained.
He added: “To get a clean sheet against the league leaders was a good result for us. We will take this point and now look forward to two home games now coming up.
Reddy made four telling saves throughout the contest – including an ultimately match-defining effort to deny Ninkovic one-on-one in the 86th minute.
However, he pragmatically downplayed his own role in the result as simply part-and-parcel of wearing the Glory gloves.
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“With the last one I just tried to make myself as big as possible and luckily I got a good foot to it.
He added: “It was good that I got down low but I just did my job today. The boys are doing well and if I can make two or three saves a game then I am doing my job.”
It wasn’t the only time the Glory were caught out across the 90 minutes with Luke Brattan’s first half strike finding the back of the net but being rubbed out by the VAR for handball.
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The goal came after the visitors turned the ball over in their own box playing out from the back, however, Reddy is adamant the team will not change their approach in spite of the scare.
“We got away with one there,” Reddy admitted.
“We are still trying to play out and if we are told to play out then we have to play out but maybe there it wasn’t on and that is one we will learn from.”
The Glory welcome two Victorian clubs to the west in coming weeks as they look to move up the table – with a resurgent Western United next on their agenda before another home fixture against the enigmatic Melbourne Victory.
Round 24
Perth Glory v Western United FC
Saturday, 21 March
HBF Park
Kick off: 6.45pm local, 9.45pm AEDT