Date: Saturday, February 11
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEDT, 4:45pm AWST
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
Head-to-head
Played 20: Wins: Sydney 9, Perth 4, Draws: 7
Previous encounter
Sydney FC 1 Perth Glory 1, Campbelltown Stadium, January 2012
History:
It’s only been about three weeks since these two sides met in their postponed clash at Campbelltown Stadium. In that clash, Sydney went within two minutes or so of recording what would have been just their second win from the last nine games. But, this Glory side are a resilient lot and Adam Hughes was on hand to score an 88th-minute winner. The draw was probably a deserved one for Glory, especially considering Sydney pinched a win when these two sides first met at nib Stadium in July. In that match, Mark Bridge caught Glory on the hop with a fine goal on the stroke of half-time but that was the cue for Perth to launch an amazing assault on the Sydney goal in the second half that really should have produced an equaliser. However, while the Sky Blues are hurting big time over last week’s thrashing by Newcastle, they can take heart from the fact that Glory haven’t beaten them since November 2009.
Form:
Past five matches:
Sydney: LDWDL
Perth Glory: WDWWW
Sydney’s form in the last few months has been especially mediocre, even before last week’s 5-2 loss to the Jets. That scoreline probably flatters Newcastle somewhat. Sydney were very good early on but lost the plot a little before half-time as the Jets scored three goals. However, the Sky Blues responded by scoring twice themselves and looked to be threatening what may have been a famous draw before the Jets caught them on the hop at the end. Despite this result maybe not being quite as bad as it looks, the fact Sydney have conceded 22 goals in the last nine games and have only scored 12 themselves speaks volumes.
As for Perth, life is pretty comfortable for Ian Ferguson and his merry men. Wow, how many times have we been able to say that in the last few years! Since that draw with Sydney, the Glory have convincingly beat Victory, Adelaide and Gold Coast United, scoring 11 goals along the way and conceding just one. It’s important to remember, though, that all those clubs are struggling big time and bigger tests, like Central Coast, await Perth.
Match Committee:
Sydney FC look likely to regain Brett Emerton from a hamstring injury but will lose skipper Terry McFlynn for a one-week suspension after he accrued too many yellow cards. Joel Chianese or Mitchell Mallia may come in for McFlynn.
Perth Glory, meanwhile, are still without defenders Josh Mitchell (knee) and Todd Howarth (groin) although Dean Heffernan stepped in for Howarth with aplomb against Gold Coast on Monday night. Evan Berger continues to battle hamstring issues, however. But Travis Dodd is now available to play his role.
Danger men:
Brett Emerton – When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Last season, Emerton was instrumental in helping Blackburn avoid relegation through a good late run and don’t discount him doing it again with Sydney FC after being forced to watch last week’s embarrassing result from the stands.
Steve McGarry – Now that he’s started scoring for Glory, the Scotsman just doesn’t want to stop. McGarry was in the right place at the