Perth Glory went into Saturday night’s match at nib Stadium against Melbourne City as underdogs and rightfully so.
Glory’s recent form line did not read too kindly prior to the encounter, with four successive matches without a win resulting in their season being on life support.
Following the City game, that position barely changed. Glory’s winless streak increased to five matches and their chances of making finals this campaign remained extremely unlikely. However, one attribute that simultaneously remained unchanged was the team’s character.
It is no secret that the Glory have not possessed the same level of quality as they did last season. The imported players promised plenty, but have at large failed to deliver. If Kenny Lowe had any hair to pull out, he would be well in the process. It has been an enormously frustrating season for Lowe and the Glory, and the Englishman would be well within his rights to vent his frustration more often; his level-headedness has been impeccable. It is quite clear that Lowe is a man of toughness, optimism and steely resolve and this is most often evident in the way his team performs.
Far from glamorous, Saturday’s outing epitomised what has been a constant throughout the Glory’s season: unattractive but resilient, and showed why Lowe has rarely questioned his side’s efforts. The goals have dried up for the Glory in the back half of the season and for Melbourne City it has been almost the opposite. City have scored 13 more goals than any side in the competition, an astonishing statistic considering they are fourth on the table, not to mention the contribution of Aaron Mooy.
The Socceroos midfielder was always going to be difficult to contain, and while the Glory struggled to do so, they were able to salvage a draw despite being one man down for the final 30 minutes in light of ill-discipline from Glory youngster Jacob Collard.
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While the efforts of an undermanned Glory in that situation have to be applauded, Collard’s sending off was a defining moment in the game. They had the momentum after Chris Harold found the back of the net for the first time this year to level the scores at two apiece.
They say you make your own luck, but there has been little luck to make for the Glory this year; almost non-existent. A loss would have been close to the killer blow on Saturday night and, while the Glory are battered and bruised, they astoundingly remain within striking distance of sixth position and an increasingly unlikely finals appearance.
Their biggest competition and obstacle is that of sixth-placed Adelaide United, who have established a seven-point gap on the West Australians. Having taken some time to hit full stride, United have done just that and are currently in a hot patch of form. The Glory will be banking on two things: the best second half of a season they have most likely ever produced in the club’s history and Adelaide’s wheels falling off, something that appears unlikely.
What is certain is this: the Glory have a massive opportunity to bank the three points this week against Newcastle Jets, a team coming off a first win since round four.
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