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Perth Glory to bank on youth again

6th November, 2010
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Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson has promised to stick with his trio of “young kids” for Sunday’s A-League clash with Wellington Phoenix at nib Stadium.

In their first starts for the Glory, Tommy Amphlett, Howard Fondyke and defender Brent Griffiths all played key roles in Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Melbourne Heart, a result that snapped Perth’s seven-game losing run.

Ferguson was thrilled with the energy provided by the young trio and indicated they would again start against the Phoenix, who sit one place higher than Perth on the table on goal difference.

“Look, I thought the boys did well,” Ferguson said.

“It was a massive difference to the way we’d been playing and the young kids came in and gave us that lift we were looking for and I’d say there won’t be too many changes.

“We’ll keep the young kids in there.

“They gave us that energy and I thought they were fantastic and gave us that lift we were looking for and hopefully it’s a step in the right direction for the way we’ve been.”

Although Wellington are renowned strugglers on the road, Ferguson has warned his charges to be on full alert after the Phoenix suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat at home to Brisbane on Wednesday.

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“I know what it’s like coming off a heavy defeat (after we lost 5-0 to Central Coast last week),” Ferguson said.

“They’ll be hurting … they’re a very good team.

“I watched them against Brisbane and even though the scoreline was 4-1 they still created some really good chances.”

Wellington striker Paul Ifill hoped the heavy loss to Brisbane, which broke the Phoenix’s 24-game unbeaten streak at Westpac Stadium, would prove to be a blessing in disguise.

“We’ve been relying on our home form for far too long and it’s about time that we became a regular football team, winning and losing games home and away just as everybody else does,” Ifill said.

“We can’t get beaten like that again, especially in our own backyard. We’re better than that.
“But seasons have turning points.

“Sometimes it’s a win, sometimes it’s a loss.

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“Sometimes you need a kick up the backside and that might have been it on Wednesday night.

“If we go to Perth this weekend and win then people will forget about that loss at home and we’ll be right back in it.

“It’s nothing that one win on the road won’t cure.”

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