After the heartbreak last Friday that ruled Perth Glory out of this season’s A-League finals, Kenny Lowe’s side were asked to play a red hot Sydney FC and there were no surprises when the Sky Blues put three past Danny Vukovic at nib Stadium to rub some salt into their fresh wounds.
With the Glory appeal now over, this crisis must be put behind the club and Sunday afternoon is an opportunity for Perth to show its disheartened supporters not all is lost and they are willing to fight. However, because of the ruling Melbourne City now find themselves in the position likely finals competitor.
The shocking news also had an effect on Melbourne, as they cemented their spot inside the top six by seeing off any late heroics from Brisbane Roar at the death. Although, their performance in their draw with the Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park last Sunday did not match the quiet celebrations that surely would have started behind closed doors amongst the City hierarchy. Now the goal would be to gain as many points possible and build some momentum heading into the A-League finals that are only three weeks away.
Key Battle – Rostyn Griffiths vs Aaron Mooy
There are many positives embedded in the Glory’s nightmare and the midfield exploits of Griffiths is a certain stand out. Despite everything that has happened off the field surrounding the club, on the pitch Perth have played some exceptional football and the defensive-midfielder has been at the centre of it all throughout the year. His ability to track runs and intercept plays with either foresight or a crunching tackle timed to perfection is a regular display, and his work rate on the front foot is fluttered with classy touches and long diagonal switches to the wingers or talisman Andy Keogh.
However, Griffiths will be put in the ring with one of the most inform centre-midfielders in the A-League, Aaron Mooy. The Melbourne playmaker has scored five times and had a hand in at least half of City’s 34 goals this season. Clearly he is the go-to man despite the presence of Robert Koren in the side, and if the visitors are to collect the three points in Perth on Sunday, Mooy is going to be a key figure.
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Team News
The spotlight will be all over the Glory players until seasons end. Are they up to it? Do the players want to play out the remainder of their matches for nothing? Regardless of the mental state inside the dressing room positions need to be filled and two pawns that will be absent on Sunday are Ruben Zadkovich, who is still a few weeks away, and the indefinitely injured Youssouf Hersi, while Sidney Sciola has been left out of the squad to take on Melbourne as well.
Perth Glory expected XI: Vukovic, Risdon, Thwaite, Djulbic, Jamieson, Griffiths, Garcia, Marinkovic, Maclaren, Harold, Keogh
City are not without personnel shortages themselves, in fact they have a total of seven players missing or in doubt. The lists reads – Kew Jailens (suspended), Jacob Melling (suspended), Safuwan Baharudin (in doubt), Robbie Wielaert (ankle – two weeks), James Brown (foot five-six weeks), Ben Garuccio (ankle six-seven weeks) and Damien Duff (ankle/calf – indefinite). These vacancies will see the likes of Ian Ramsay restored to the starting eleven to maybe feature in the wing-back role and likewise for ex-Glory defender Jack Clisby.
Melbourne City expected XI: Velaphi, Clisby, Chapman, Kisnorbo, Ramsay, Germano, Paartalu, Mooy, Koren, Novillo, Kennedy
Head-to-head
Perth Glory have been the dominate club since Melbourne’s inception, having won six of 14 fixtures, although that is closely followed by City with four victories. The last time these two sides met was in February at AAMI Park where the points were shared in a lacklustre deadlock, which has been the case in two of the past three. Melbourne were the most recent victors in February last year while Perth won the previous clash at nib Stadium with a comfortable 3-0 scoreline.
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Prediction
It is difficult to play football when there is nothing to be gained and that is compounded when something has been taken from or stolen as many of the Glory players and staff would feel. For that reason, and the display against Sydney FC last weekend, it is hard to see past the travelling Melbourne City for all three points, John v’ant Schip’s side will be focusing on a successful finals campaign and will want to make every game count on the run in.
Perth Glory 0 Melbourne City 2
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