Perth coach David Mitchell has accused the A-League’s fixture organisers of costing the Glory a home final after his side were forced to play more away games for a second successive season.

The Glory have booked their first finals appearance after finishing fifth on the ladder, but Mitchell insists his travel-shy side were faced with an unfair advantage by playing 13 home games and 14 on the road.

They must now beat Wellington at their Westpac Stadium fortress, where the Phoenix are unbeaten since October 2008, this Sunday to keep alive their season.

And Mitchell, whose side have won just three times away from ME Stadium this campaign, is angry his players have faced the same situation two years in succession, after playing 10 home games and 11 away fixtures in 2008/09.

“We are disappointed not to have sealed a home final that is down to our away form not being good enough and also playing more away games than home games,” Mitchell told AAP.

“We are strong at home and had we had that one more home game we would probably have been playing a home final.

“Last year happened to us and that is not correct. It is a situation that needs to be addressed.

“When you have more away games one year you should have more home games the next and that didn’t happen and it is very disappointing.”

Mitchell is also unhappy that that situation was reversed for reigning premiers Melbourne and last year’s beaten finalists Adelaide, who, for the second successive season, have played more home games.

“The situation is something that we have had a bee in our bonnet about since the start of the year and it looks like it has cost us.”

Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) head of media relations Rod Allen hit back at Mitchell’s comments and said although the Glory had been handed less home games, ME Stadium hosted fixtures against the big clubs more times than any other team.

“Each year the draw is done in isolation and the FFA takes into account a whole range of considerations and requests from clubs and does it’s best to meet as many as it can,” he told AAP.

“This year Perth Glory got more home games than the previous year and were given two home games against Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar.

“These were blockbuster home clashes and saw their home crowds increase by 16 per cent.

“Previously the club told the FFA that fixtures against some clubs were hard to make work financially so we took that into consideration.”

© AAP 2012

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