Stats Preview: Perth can seal record after 400 minutes without conceding

How do you breach Perth Glory’s near impenetrable defence?

It is a question enough to keep Carlos Salvachua awake at night as the Melbourne Victory boss attempts plots a route past the reigning Premiers’ water-tight rear-guard.

Perth will enter Saturday evening’s clash with Victory on a run of four consecutive clean sheets. Undefeated in their last seven Hyundai A-League matches, the men from WA have kept an incredible six clean sheets during that period.

It has been over 400 minutes of action since Glory last conceded a goal – to Newcastle Jets’ Steven Ugarkovic on December 21. A fifth shutout on Saturday evening at HBF Park would be a new club record for the ex-National Soccer League powerhouse.

Victory do have cause for optimism despite being on the verge of a fourth defeat in a row, a run the four-time Champions have only ever endured once in their history.

Victory have won their last two matches against Perth and have won two of their last three against them at HBF Park, and they will be full of confidence after clinching a famous away win over Kashima Antlers to stamp their AFC Champions League group stage ticket on Tuesday.

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Which Brisbane will turn up against Sydney?

Brisbane Roar’s last two journeys to Sydney have been a tale of ecstasy and agony.

Having shocked the Sky Blues 2-0 in their FFA Cup 2019 Round of 32 clash, in what was Robbie Fowler’s first match at the helm in September, Brisbane were humbled 5-1 on their next visit to Sydney in December.

But as he prepares to take the Queensland outfit back to the Harbour City on Friday, the ex-Premier League legend should be more confident of replicating the former result, although it will be a huge ask.

Brisbane are on a five-match undefeated run – the last time they went on a longer stretch was a 10-match run in October 2016. Things appear to be turning around ever so slightly for the Roar, who could overtake Western United and Adelaide United in the top six temporarily with another surprise win.

Robbie Fowler

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Wishful thinking

Where might Adelaide United be on the ladder if the Reds had a prolific striker in the mould of Jamie Maclaren?

That is a fantasy worth pondering for Adelaide fans the Gertjan Verbeek-coached side prepare to welcome Maclaren’s Melbourne City to the Coopers on Saturday evening.

United have had no issue getting into dangerous goalscoring positions this season – they top the league with 425 touches in the opposition penalty area – but despite a reasonably healthy goal return (24 from 14 matches), you sense an out and out goal scorer like Maclaren would have a transformative effect on the team’s desire to be a genuine competition force.

The Socceroo has scored 10 goals from open play this season – the most in the Hyundai A-League and double the amount of Adelaide’s top scorer Riley McGree, who tops his side’s scoring charts with five from open play and eight overall.

READ: Mileusnic believes Adelaide attackers have stepped up without Goodwin

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Wanderers need a boost

A trip to Gosford could be the perfect reprieve for embattled Western Sydney Wanderers – or so fans of the Red and Black will hope ahead of Sunday afternoon’s contest.

Wanderers have won just one of their last 11 fixtures but boast a far healthier record against the Mariners, against whom the club have lost just three of their previous 17.

However, one of those defeats came the last time the two battled at Central Coast Stadium, a 3-1 Mariners victory in April 2019 and one which ended a run of five consecutive defeats to the Wanderers on home turf.

Alen Stajcic’s side will leapfrog their opponents on the table with a win on this occasion and there should be no shortage of motivation for either side. 

Gregory Wuthrich was a tower of strength against the Wanderers

United’s learning curve

After a wholly impressive start to life in the Hyundai A-League, Western United have encountered a few teething problems of late and Mark Rudan will recognise the importance of defeating Newcastle Jets in Saturday evening’s early kick off.

In particular, Rudan will demand the Green and Black hit the ground running against rock-bottom Newcastle. Nine of United’s last 10 matches have seen the half time score reflect the outcome of the game – a period in which the league new boys have picked up just three wins.

Newcastle are winless in their last eight Hyundai A-League matches. The last time the Jets endured a longer period without victory was a 10-match span beginning in February 2017.

Western United celebrate

MATCH PREVIEW: Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar
MATCH PREVIEW: Newcastle Jets v Western United
MATCH PREVIEW: Adelaide United v Melbourne City 
MATCH PREVIEW: Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory 
MATCH PREVIEW: Central Coast Mariners v Western Sydney Wanderers

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