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
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Beautiful from De Silva. Don't know what the Drunken Keeper was doing, but De Silva was beautiful!
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
That is all from me tonight in my 100th article for the Roar. Perth continue their glorious run in the A-League. Until next time it is bye from me.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
THOUGHTS - The dream run of Perth Glory continues as they defeat the Central Coast Mariners 4-1 in Perth. The win gives them a six point lead at the top of the ladder and they will be top on Christmas Day and at the end of 2014. It also gives them 9 wins out of their first 11 games of the season. They are only the second team to do that in the history of the A-League. Perth also extend their undefeated run in the league to 8 matches. For the first 30 minutes of the match, this looked unlikely to happen. The Mariners controlled the match but they couldn't find the decisive goal. They were made to pay by the Glory who scored two goals in two minutes. Harold and Keogh were lethal with their chances and they gave the Glory a good lead into half time. To the Mariners credit, they pulled one goal back, and were pressing for a second goal in the second half. This ended though when Da Silva scored one of the goals of the season. His strike was a fantastic one for the Glory and it took the stuffing out of the Mariners. Harold made the job complete with a 4th goal in the 79th minute. Perth now have a handy buffer heading into the next few matches which include contests against the Victory and the Reds. The Mariners on the other hand will need to bounce back. They are now 5 points behind in the race for the top 6. They are also winless in their last 10 matches. They played well in parts tonight but they need to be consistent for 90 minutes. They have plenty of work to do during the holiday period.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
FULL TIME - Perth 4 Central Coast 1 Perth Chris Harold 24' & 79' Andy Keogh 36' Daniel Da Silva 71' Central Coast Matt Simon 49'
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
91' A golden chance for the Glory to make it 5 goals. A string of passes find Keogh in the box. He passes to MacLaren and he has space in the box. He shoots for goal but hits the post. So close for MacLaren. PERTH 4 CCM 1
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
90' 3 minutes of added time.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
88' Ruben Zadkovich gets the first yellow card for the match. He makes a late tackle on a Mariner player. He has done well at right back tonight.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
87' CROWD - 9660
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
85' Sim puts in a nice cross for the Mariners. He finds Duke but the Mariner can't head on target. It goes out for a goal kick. PERTH 4 CCM 1
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
81' The Mariners win a free kick near the box. The free kick goes past the players and out for a goal kick. PERTH 4 CCM 1
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
80' SUB FOR PERTH Chris Harold is OFF Jamie MacLaren is ON
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
78' GAME OVER. What a counter attack from the Glory. Marinkovic passes to Keogh from the opposition penalty box and the Irishman goes on a run. He passes to Harold who runs into the box and shoots for goal. It beats Reddy and goes into the net. That is his first brace for the Glory. PERTH 4 CCM 1
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Cenrtal Coast have given up, they look like theyre standing still, which is sad, given how well they started. Guess thats why Perth are on top, endure, survive and finish.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
78' Oh that is a classy goal from the Glory. PERTH GLORY SCORE.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
77' Mariners win a corner.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
73' Fitzgerald has a shot in the box but it is saved well by Vukovic. The ball fell to the Mariners midfielder but he couldn't score. PERTH 3 CCM 1
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
70' Perth almost have the three points wrapped up. Harold passes to Da Silva. He beats his opponent, controls the ball, and then volleys the ball from outside of the box. It bounces and beats Reddy for a goal. We will be seeing that goal for sometime in the highlights reel. What a strike. PERTH 3 CCM 1
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
70' That is why he is heading to Roma. What a strike by Da Silva. Perth Glory SCORE.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
WHAT A STRIKE!
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
70' SUB FOR THE MARINERS Glen Trifiro is OFF Seung-Yong Kim is ON Twenty minutes to go. The game has slowed down a little bit. Can the Mariners find an equaliser?