Sydney FC’s premiership chances took a hit last week thanks to an Awer Mabil thunderbolt, but they have fond memories after their last visit to nib Stadium and will be looking for similar result when they take on Perth Glory in round 25 of the A-League.
Join The Roar from 9.45pm (AEST) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
Perth’s season appeared to be back on track with two wins in two weeks, placing them back at equal top of the competition.
However, that all came undone during the week starting with the news that creative midfielder, Mitch Nichols, has had his loan contract terminated, and followed by the news on Friday afternoon that Perth would be barred from playing in the 2015 A-League finals.
Glory are now set to finish the season in seventh, meaning the points only matter for Sydney FC tonight, whose prospects of a top two finish have dramatically increased following the news.
Lowe maintained throughout the week that his side was focused on doing the job on the pitch, and Glory defender, Dino Djulbic echoed Lowe’s sentiment, telling reporters, “We get paid to play football, so we just do that. For us, there’s no distraction at all.”
Djulbic, who was sent off the last time these two sides met, went on to say that the squad is flying high and full of confidence following the two wins in two weeks.
With finals now off the table, it will be interesting to see how the players, coach and fans react to tonight’s game.
Despite the results against the Wanderers and Newcastle, the Glory’s form hasn’t been convincing and will need vast improvements if they are to take three points from the visiting Sky Blues who peppered Eugene Galekovic’s goal for 90 minutes in Sydney last week.
Sydney arrive in Perth, undefeated away from home this season but with a weakened squad due to injuries to key midfielders Terry Antonis and Mickael Tavares while injury concerns continue to cloud Austrian striker Marc Janko.
Given the lack of attacking cover, Janko is expected to start, while Rhyan Grant is in line to replace the injured Tavares.
Perth, who have reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation that served them so well at the beginning of the season, certainly have the firepower to trouble Sydney’s back four but following Nikola Petkovic’s shift to left back, Arnold seems to have resolved the issues that have troubled his defence this season.
The Glory are playing for nought this season, but we can only hope they’ll be determined to turn around the last start loss against Graham Arnold’s Sky Blues who know a loss against the Glory will further dent their own title ambitions. Join The Roar from 9.45pm (AEST) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
billyelliott
Roar Guru
And that's it. KGJ blows fulltime and a dark day in Perth finishes with the home team on the wrong end of a 3 nil scoreline. Sydney join Melbourne at the top of the table and continue their winning ways away from home. After 15 minutes, Perth were never really in it. Sydney dominate in possession and just suffocated Perth for field position. Sydney too good and deserved the win. Final score Perth 0 Sydney 3
billyelliott
Roar Guru
90+3 Sydney win a free kick in an attacking corner. Djulbic just dropping the shoulder in Stambolziev. Dimi delivers, but it is straight down the throat of Vuka. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
90+2' Change for Sydney. Into the second of four added minutes. Petkovic replaced by Gersbach. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
89' Petkovic is down with cramps. It's his groin and may be more serious than cramp. He was stretching for a ball and was forced to toe it over the line for a Perth corner. De Silva with the corner. It's cleared, bounces away to Jamieson who tries to blast it into the top corner but he can't control his shot. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
88' BLackwood strong to hold off Garcia. He passes to DImi, who sends it wide to Petkovic. Sydney come back the same way through Grant and Ryall. Ryall is forced all the way back to Vedran who skies his clearance. Sydney then give away a free kick and Perth again try and build something. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
86' Corner for Perth. De Silva delivers. Vedran comes and punches clear. Jamieson finds De Silva again, he wriggles between two Sydney defenders but Sydney come up with the ball and they counter. Blackwood finds Ibini, it was a disappointing finish. Perth now counter. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
85' Perth attack through Sidnei. Ball over is too deep for Djulbic who is forced to retreat. Second ball over is too deep, this time for Sidnei. He recovers to play in Jamieson but Perth turn it over and Sydney transition. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
83' Perth unable to find anyway through the Sydney defence. Ibini finds Ryall. Ryall returns the pass and Ibini cuts inside he looks to have been fouled but the winger continues his run, he shoots but it's cleared. Final change for Sydney - Brosque replaced by Blackwood. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
81' Sydney have another corner as they search for a fourth goal. Stambolziev was looking for Janko but it was cut out. Dimi delivers to the top of the box. Ibini lines it up, Vuka can't hold, bounces to Ryall ... who is in an offside position. Relief for Perth. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
80' Djulbic launches an attack and continues his run but Sidnei ignores him, cuts inside and shoots from well outside. It doesn't get far, Sydney defenders intercept and Djulbic has to trudge back to position. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
78' Terrible touch from Perth sees Sydney win a throw. They gain about 20m before the ball again rolls over the line and the get another through. As it stands at the moment, Sydney will go equal first. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
75' Good intercept by Thwaite, foils a certain Sydney counter. But Perth end up losing the ball and Sydney do go forward. This time Risdon wins out against Petkovic and Perth can attack. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
75' Chance for Sydney goes begging, Brosque was coming back from an offside position. Perth try to surge forward but this team isn't playing as one. No one seems prepared to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
74' Perth reverting to route one football. Unlike last week against Adelaide, Sydney are awake to it and Vedran is able to pick up the ball and start another Sydney FC attack. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
74' Stambolziev plays the corner short, he gets it back but can't clear the first man, goal kick Perth. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
72' Janko with a shot that cannons into Vuka. Corner for Sydney. Delivered by Dimi, Vuka comes to punch but Djulbic gets there first to clear.... but Sydney have another corner. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
70' Sydney well in control and slowing the game down now. Ibini putting Jamieson under the kosch, but the Glory defender can work it clear. Perth now in an attacking position, but again they turn it over and Brosque streaks clear. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
69' Glory still attacking. Change for Sydney, Stambolziev replacing Naumoff. Stambolziev will have 20 minutes to show Arnold he's worth a starting position. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
67' Perth not giving in. Jamieson cuts inside and delivers a cross into Garcia who's header rebounds off the crossbar. Final change for Perth, Sidnei on for Marinkovic who has been quiet thanks, largely in part due to Rhyan Grant who has worked hard in midfield for Sydney tonight. Perth 0 3 Sydney
billyelliott
Roar Guru
Sydney lightning in transition. Perth with no answers. Perth 0 3 Sydney