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Friday Night’s second fixture takes us to the west where Perth Glory host Kevin Muscat’s Melbourne Victory at NIB Stadium. Join us from kick-off at 9.45pm AEDT.
This fixture is an intriguing one because it has the potential to completely derail either side’s seasons.
Muscat’s men face a mammoth task. It is never easy to come out of Perth with all three points, andit makes the task even harder when you’ve conceded 13 goals in the last three fixtures.
The Victory has slumped to demoralising consecutive 5-0 defeats against weaker opposition.
Muscat is under major pressure, with talks doing the round this week about a potential sacking if fortunes don’t change for the former A-League hardman.
Changes are expected with Tom Rogic and Gui Finkler set to be promoted into the starting XI in place of Kosta Barbarouses, who injured himself during training this week, and James Troisi who may lose his place due to poor form.
Adrian Leijer finds himself suspended once again, so Chilean marquee Pablo Contreras will regain his place in the starting XI, while exciting youngster Adame Traore will return after serving his suspension. Dylan Murnane makes way for his return.
The issue with Victory since Muscat took charge hasn’t been their lack of talent, because they have a great roster.
Inconsistency, dire efforts, bad team choices, and their lack of game-plan execution have all been the killers for the navy blue and white.
Their off-field troubles with the board and supporters haven’t helped their cause either, and everything seems to being going against the supposed ‘biggest club in the country’ at the moment.
The Glory welcome back Brandon O’Neill, Ryan Edwards and the enigmatic Adrian Zahra to the starting squad but while they will be without the likes of Jack Clisby, Matthew Davies, and Isevka Cernak.
Perth have had such an inconsistent season – in the last three fixtures they have experienced all three options of results, so you really don’t know which Perth side will be showing up.
Prediction
While Perth have been inconsistent, I think they will be too strong at home, especially against this demoralized Victory side.
Perth in a tight late 2-1 win – though if Victory are to come away with anything from the west Rogic and Finkler will need to up the ante, along with some great leadership and effort by the defensive line.
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