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Sydney FC star Brett Emerton has warned his team’s celebrated A-League win over Brisbane will count for nothing if they don’t produce the goods against Perth in his Campbelltown backyard on Wednesday.
Emerton was one of the scorers in Sydney’s 2-0 win over Brisbane at Kogarah on Sunday, when they terminated the ladder-leading Roar’s record 36-match unbeaten streak.
It is a homecoming of sorts for the Socceroos stalwart, who was raised in the region, still lives there, and used to watch rugby league matches at the venue was when he was younger.
He conceded it won’t be easy for his side to come down from the high of toppling Brisbane.
“It’s difficult. It’s something we have to be wary of, because if we don’t back it up with a good performance tomorrow night, then it’s all for nothing really,” Emerton told reporters at Campbelltown on Tuesday.
“We have to find that consistency and perform at that level hopefully week in, week out.”
Third-placed Sydney are facing one of the most critical weeks of their entire campaign.
Wins over Perth and then away to last-placed Gold Coast on Sunday would put them in the mix for a top-two placing.
“We are within touching distance so it’s all about stringing at least two or three wins together,” Emerton said.
“In this league if you are able to do that, then you find yourself jumping many places.”
Even Sydney’s notoriously circumspect coach Vitezslav Lavicka recognises the importance of the next few days, describing it as “a crucial period for us.”
He said he would likely include Scott Jamieson in his squad after serving a suspension.
It also looms as a big week for Perth, who are one point and two positions below Sydney, but will displace them from third if they win on Wednesday.
Perth, who continue their travels with another fixture on Saturday against the Phoenix in Wellington have taken just one point from their past four away games.
“We can only prepare right,” Glory captain Jacob Burns told reporters on Tuesday.
“Hopefully being over here on the east coast and then having a shorter trip to Wellington, can kind of work in our favour.”
Western Sydney-raised Burns talked up Sydney, describing them as a quality side with the potential to achieve bigger things.
“They are really going to be a force to be reckoned with,” Burns said.
Glory goalkeeper Danny Vukovic, who is another product of the bountiful western Sydney soccer nursery, stressed the importance of nullifying FC playmaker Nicky Carle.
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