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After losing the FFA Cup final during the week, Perth Glory will look to bounce back in the A-League when they take on the Central Coast Mariners at nIB Stadium. Join The Roar for all the action from 9:30pm (AEDT).
This week has been a tough one for the Glory. Off the field, and on it, they have been battered and bruised.
On the field, on Tuesday, they lost in the FFA Cup final to Adelaide United, with Sergio Cirio’s goal in the 67th minute giving the hosts the win.
Off the field, the Glory has been dealing with salary cap issues which date back to season 2011-12, when they made the grand final.
Perth have a chance to move on from both dramas when they play the Mariners tonight at home.
In the league the Glory has been almost unstoppable this season. After 10 matches this season they are on top with 22 points, and eight wins. At home they are undefeated with five wins in their five matches in Perth.
Since beating the Jets in the opening round of the season, the Mariners have picked up just four points in nine matches, including three draws in the last six matches.
Last week, they played one of their best games of the season, when they held the Wellington Phoenix to a draw in New Zealand. They will be looking to do the same again this week against the Glory.
The Mariners have a good record against the Glory in Perth. In 14 meetings, the Mariners have only lost five times to the Glory. In return they have won five times and drawn four times.
In recent times though, this has been different. Perth won the last two meetings, including a 1-0 win in Gosford this season.
A win tonight would give Perth a clean sweep of victories in matches played in 2014 and maintain their position at the top of the ladder. If results go their way they could extend their lead at the top to six points. A loss could see them fall to second if the Victory wins in the Melbourne derby.
If Perth is to win tonight they will have to do it with a squad which has suffered injury and suspension from the FFA Cup final.
Josh Risdon will be on the sidelines for one week after his red card against the Reds. Joining him will be Mitch Nichols, who did his hamstring in training this week. Nichols, who is in the Australian preliminary squad for the Asian Cup, is out for six to eight weeks, ruling him out of the Asian Cup next month.
Perth has included five players to the squad for the match.
The Mariners have also made changes to the team that drew with Wellington last week.
Nick Montgomery will miss the match with a calf injury and Josh Bingham has been omitted for the clash.
Storm Roux – who returns from illness – is one of four inclusions to the Mariners squad. Mitch Duke, Isaka Cernak, and Eddy Bosnar, have all been promoted for the match.
A big win by the Mariners, and a loss by others, could put them back into the top six and within striking distance of the finals. With the week the Glory have had, it could be the perfect match for the Mariners to break the run without a victory.
The Glory will hold on for a win but they will be pushed all the way by the Mariners.
Prediction: Glory 2-1
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