Two desperate teams in the form of Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners meet at nib Stadium in a bottom-of-the-table clash.
It hasn’t been a fun time to be a Perth or Central Coast fan recently. Heading into the game, both teams sit rooted to the bottom of the table. With just nine points between the two teams after nine rounds, although Perth have played one less game, it’s fair to say it’s been gloomy for fans in the far West and Gosford.
A mounting injury list is just the start of the Glory’s problems; with their inability to find the back of the net and an increasingly leaky defence, the club’s lack of depth has been criticised, as fan discontent has started to grow. Kenny Lowe may be starting to feel the heat, and this time it’s not just the West Australian summer.
Central Coast got their season off to a bang with a 3-2 win over the Glory in Round One, but it was the last time they tasted success this season. Boasting a defence attempting to do its best impression of Swiss cheese, rookie coach Tony Walmsley’s young team has found the going tough since the Perth win, scoring just seven times and conceding nineteen. Despite the coach’s faith in his young charges and attempting to play entertaining football, Bluetongue Stadium hasn’t been a happy place.
Key Battle – Chris Harold vs Roy O’Donovan
To say goals have been hard to come by for both teams is putting it lightly; heading into this game, both teams would find it easier to find Wally than the back of the net. With off-season import Guyon Fernandez still injured and Sidnei ruled out of the clash, the responsibility of leading the line will fall to Chris Harold. Whilst Harold has the pace to scare the Mariners defence, his finishing has been found wanting on many occasions this season.
Like Harold, Roy O’Donovan’s finishing has come under scrutiny from fans and the press alike at this early stage of the season. However, Walmsley has chosen to start him every game so far this season, and he has played all but 18 minutes of action for the Mariners. Even more importantly, he is their top scorer with three goals, a record the Glory are no doubt envious of.
With both teams shaky at the back and devoid of goals up the other end, there’s pressure on both strikers heading into this game. Neither has set the league on fire early this year; this weekend may be the chance to do it. Whichever striker can get on the scoresheet may well be the difference between the two sides.
Team News
There was more bad news out of Perth this week, as Sidnei Sciola suffered a calf injury at training and will sit out. He’ll join Dino Djulbic, Guyon Fernandez and Ruben Zadkovic on the injury list. Josh Risdon and Alex Grant have both been included in the squad after missing the last two weeks with injury, but neither are certainties to start. In brighter news, Aryn Williams returns from suspension.
Perth Glory (Predicted Starting XI): Covic; Williams, Thwaite, Golec, Warren; Ferreira, Sandor, Marinkovic; Garcia, Harold, Castro.
Following the 5-1 thrashing to Melbourne City, captain Nic Montgomery returns from suspension. It’ll be interesting to see whether Walmsley persists with his young centre half partnership of Jacob Poscoliero and Jake McGing in the wake of last week’s loss. Otherwise, expect it to be business as usual, with Fabio Ferreira and Glen Trifiro still not quite ready to return from injury.
Central Coast Mariners (Predicted Starting XI): Izzo; Roux, Poscoliero, McGing, J. Rose; Montgomery, L. Rose, Fitzgerald, Caceres, O’Donovan, Austin.
Head-to-Head
It’s an incredibly one-sided ledger in the head-to-head column, with Central Coast having beaten the Glory on a remarkable 18 occasions. In contrast, Perth have only managed eight wins, with just six draws between the two sides. It’s more even at nib Stadium, however, with Perth having claimed six wins to five, with four draws.
Last Meeting
It was the aforementioned, opening day clash which say the Mariners claim honours for the first and only time this season at Bluetongue Stadium. O’Donovan opened the scoring early when Ferreira’s shot was pushed into his path from close range by Ante Covic, before Richard Garcia returned fire with a header midway through the first half. However, Central Coast took over in the second half, and Ferreira converted two penalties to put them in the driver’s seat. Gyorgy Sandor grabbed a late consolation goal, but the hosts held on.
Prediction
Both teams are in dire need of a win. It’s been a long time between drinks for the two clubs and they’ll take any win they can get at this point, no matter how it comes, in an attempt to rescue the season. Unfortunately, with both teams struggling all over the park, it’s not a simple solution. Central Coast have been better in front of goals, but Perth have been better defensively. Neither team has enjoyed a good run of form recently, so it’s hard to see anything other than a draw in this one.
Perth Glory 1 Central Coast Mariners 1
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