Overturning recent poor results will be the aim for both sides in tonight’s A-League clash between Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:00pm (AEDT).
League frontrunners Brisbane will be seeking redemption on home turf after consecutive losses has seen their lead at the top cut to just four points.
In the visiting Glory camp, the storyline is far bleaker.
Kenny Lowe’s men appear rooted to the bottom of the table and are without a win in their last six matches.
Despite the mismatch, Perth will find solace in the Roar’s own recent run of bad form, which includes surprising losses to cellar-dwellers Newcastle and Melbourne Heart.
The last time these two sides met was January 17th in Perth, when the Glory used their home advantage to hold Brisbane to a 0-0 result.
The Queenslanders have historically had the better of Perth, having won 16 of 27 encounters – including the spiteful 2012 Grand Final clash at Suncorp.
In fact, the Glory’s last win over their opponents came in Mike Mulvey’s first game in charge of the Roar, more than 14 months ago.
Despite managing just five shots in their clash with the Heart last week, Mulvey is going into this match with the same squad.
Lowe on the other hand, has brought in youngsters Brandon O’Neill and Jamie Maclaren, but is forced to make do without key defender Michael Thwaite due to suspension, while Riley Woodcock has been dropped.
With Mulvey lamenting the recent lack of service to star striker – and Perth nemesis – Besart Berisha, the pressure is on the likes of Luke Brattan and Matt McKay in the midfield to regain some form.
Meanwhile, the Glory, who have scored the least amount of goals (19) in the competition, will be relying on their defensive game to keep the usual, attack-minded Roar at bay.
Jacob Burns and Rostyn Griffiths need to be on song to limit the service from Brattan and McKay, while marquee signing William Gallas cannot afford any more calamitous defending as seen last week against the Wanderers.
Perth will be feeling unusually confident about their chances at Suncorp given Brisbane’s recent stutter to similarly ranked sides.
Regardless, it is difficult to see Mike Mulvey’s men being overcome by a Glory outfit distracted by internal problems and with just one win from their travels this season.
Brisbane’s midfield should be too strong and we ought to expect Perth nemesis, Besart Berisha, to find his way onto the scoresheet.
Are the wheels falling off the Brisbane train, or will Mike Mulvey’s side maintain their grip on top of the table with a win over the struggling Glory?
Prediction:
Brisbane Roar 3-0 Perth Glory.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:00pm (AEDT).
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
All over here at Suncorp Stadium, with Brisbane ending their two-game losing streak courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Perth Glory. The Roar go seven points clear at the top, while Perth's loss condemns them to bottom of the A-League table before Melbourne Heart take on Melbourne Victory tomorrow night. Goal of the night goes to Thomas Broich who scored a cracker into the top corner after being gifted too much space outside of the box. I was nearly spot-on with my 3-0 prediction before the game, with Matthew Smith's brain fade gifting Shane Smeltz a 1-on-1 opportunity in the dying moments and putting a slight blemish on Brisbane's game. A forgettable first half was followed by a four-goal period in the second - hard to complain there! Thanks for joining me this evening. Hope to do it all again soon. Rusty Woodger. — FT Live score: Brisbane Roar 3 - 1 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
GOAL! Shane Smeltz scores an easy consolation goal after Roar skipper Matthew Smith has a brain fade, playing the ball across goal to the feet of Smeltz, who easily finishes past Theo. The Roar shot-stopper jumps to his feat and unleashes a spray on his own captain for the mistake. — 90′+1 Live score: Brisbane Roar 3 - 1 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
De Silva attempts to swing in a cross for Perth under pressure from the Brisbane defence, but instead smashes it into Row Z. — 90′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 3 - 0 Perth Glory
Stevo
Guest
Wow. JA had us working hard to get to the bottom and now we're moving up and possibly to 8th by the end of the weekend!
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Berisha attempts the spectacular with an athletic overhead kick. The shot was on target but goes straight into Risden before ricocheting out for a corner. Meanwhile, Brisbane make a substitution. ON - Henrique OFF - Dimitri Petratos — 88′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 3 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
GOALLL!!! A third for Brisbane! Fantastic strike from Broich from well outside the box, who bends it into the top right corner as Vukovic looks on. Perth defenders gave the German far too much time and space to allow him to get off the shot. — 85′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 3 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
With this scoreline, Perth will drop to last place on the A-League table below Melbourne Heart - who play their derby fixture against Victory tomorrow night. — 85′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 2 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
The 3 points look assured for Brisbane now, but despite their two goal lead, it has to be said that the Roar have been far from convincing this evening against an uninspired Perth side. — 84′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 2 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
GOALL!!! Liam Miller finds the back of the net in rather unusual circumstances. The Irishman is released with Berisha for a 2-on-1 situation on goal. The pair pass to each other but struggle to find a clear shot past Vukovic, who saves once before the ball finds its way back to Miller's feet, who doesn't miss from a metre out. — 81′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 2 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Perth really devoid of ideas. Sidnei doing his best down the left but to no avail. — 80′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 1 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Bratten yet again with a hopeful strike from outside the box. Again, his half-volley skies well above the goals and into the stands. — 79′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 1 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Some superb work from Broich on the edge of the box leads to a shot with deflects to the feet of the one man Perth don't want to be in possession on goal.... Besart Berisha. The Albanian shoots to Vukovic's left but the Glory no. 1 in goals has little trouble stopping the shot. — 76′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 1 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Play opens up for Berisha in midfield who plays it to Petratos. The ex-Sydney attacking midfielder attempts to cut across goal to open up for the shot, but he gets too underneath the ball and his shot goes flying well above Vukovic's goal. — 75′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 1 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Missed a Substitution for Perth before. Marinkovic came off and was replaced by Sernas. — 72′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 1 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Broich finds himself in an acre of space before cutting inside and trying to put Berisha on goal. Only some desperate defending saves the day for Glory as the ball is booted away for a throw-in. — 71′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 1 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Theo comes out to collect a cross and clamours into Shane Smeltz in the process. Looks very groggy and is slow to get up. Referee halts play until the Brisbane keeper finds his feet, which ends with an applause from the home crowd as he does so. — 69′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 1 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Sidnei delivers a cross into Smeltz (who has barely been sighted all game), who can't get over the ball enough with the header, and Theo calmly collects with his outstretched arms. — 67′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 1 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
OH, so close! Petratos is released on goal and almost has a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper. Fantastic defensive work from Risden, who blocks the shot and the ball travels out for a corner. — 63′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 1 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
Not a bad confidence booster for Ivan Franjic, finding the scoresheet just days before heading to London for the Socceroos' friendly with Ecuador. — 62′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 1 - 0 Perth Glory
Rusty Woodger
Roar Pro
SUBSTITUTION (Perth Glory): ON - Steven McGarry OFF - Rostyn Griffiths — 60′ Live score: Brisbane Roar 1 - 0 Perth Glory