Perth Glory make the trip east in the midst of a form slump to take on a firing Melbourne Victory side at AAMI Park. Catch all the live scores, highlights and action from 7:50pm (AEDT) on The Roar.
Despite sitting in fifth on the ladder, Perth have just one win from their last five games in the A-League and threaten to drop out of the top six.
A disappointing performance in last week’s two-nil loss to the Mariners has raised questions on the coaching future of Kenny Lowe and the impact of a highly touted front line.
The Glory can take some respite coming into the clash knowing that they haven’t lost a game in their last six encounters with the Victory.
But Melbourne are charging towards the top of the ladder.
Victory have won four of their last five, including a 6-1 demolition job of a hapless Phoenix side and two clean sheets leading into this week.
While Melbourne City and Sydney FC fight it out at the pointy end of the standings, Victory have snuck up on the league leaders and now have a chance to pass their cross-town rivals into second place.
Team News
Both sides have been affected by injuries and will make changes on both sides of the field.
For the visitors, Perth will be without Josh Risdon and Diego Castro after they sustained quad and hamstring injuries respectively and are expected to miss about a month of action.
Rhys Williams will also miss out for the Glory after copping a red card in last week’s loss to the Central Coast.
Marc Warren, Dino Djulbic, Mitch Oxborrow, James Reiners and Kosta Petratos have all been added to an extended squad for matchday.
Victory can welcome back Daniel Georgievski from a collarbone injury and Lawrence Thomas who has recovered from a broken finger.
Stefan Nigro and Jai Ingham also come into the side in place of Mitch Austin who has succumbed to an ankle injury.
Prediction
Perth have looked shaky to say the least in the last month and face a tough test tonight.
A long trip, a depleted lineup and a Victory side on fire could spell disaster for the Glory this week.
Victory to win 3-0
Charrua2
Guest
IKeogh only needed one opportunity and he buried that ball in the net Victory has 22 opportunities and converted once. The players must take ownership of such a poor performance.My advice to the players is, Just working hard does not cut it in the A league, team must win and the coach can not do it for you, if you are a player and you failed not once but a number of times because you were not able to kick the ball in between the sticks and a goalkeeper, you are responsible for fixing that problem, how? one may ask, easy. In your spare time, after all you are a professional and you must have some spare time, I repeat, in your spare time, get to a pitch any pitch would do, even the local football club and spend hours practising kicking the ball in between the sticks ffor Christ sake. Professional footballers do not need to be nursed like if they are kids. If you know that recently you can not score, practise, practise and practise, it is your problem sunshine, not that of the club or the coaches, we the punters who pay for your salary through membership demand it
Haydos
Guest
Should've won the game by about seven games huh?
AZ_RBB
Guest
Really surprised at the audible boos at full time. The team is coming 3rd and was inches away from taking 2nd spot in a season where no team has looked comfortable.
Gossie fan
Guest
62 to 38
Connor Bennett
Editor
Perth had just 33% possession for the whole game on the road but still didn't lose. Melbourne had 22 shots throughout the 90 minutes and scored one goal. Perth had one shot on target... and scored one goal. Melbourne should have won that game by about seven games but their execution killed them up front and Perth's desperation defence kept them in the points equation.
XI
Roar Guru
That is one that got away for Melbourne. Could cost them in finals.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME Someway, somehow Perth have taken a point out of this game. Melbourne dominated the game all over the park for the most part, but a goal against the run of play in the opening half was enough for the Glory to take a draw and survive the onslaught. Victory – 1 Glory – 1
Gossie fan
Guest
That was bloody disgusting from victory
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +4 Time running out and Melbourne are getting desperate now. TROISI FINDS THE POST!!! How about that!! Melbourne pressing hard at the top of the box and they get the lucky deflection off the defence. Troisi doesn't even bother trying to control the ball, just hitting the volley as he falls back and Reddy is beaten. The ball looked for all money like it was going in but it just collects the crossbar and Glory survive in the dying seconds. Victory – 1 Glory – 1
XI
Roar Guru
How long until Melbourne pull the keeper to try and get the winner?
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +3 Geria going solo from the right wing back into the midfield. Berisha is up front looking for space but Perth have parked the bus now and the defensive line is compact. Victory – 1 Glory – 1
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +1 Beister fouled in the Perth half and he lets out a big scream in protest. Melbourne fail, for the hundredth time tonight, on the set piece and they're making defence too easy for Perth in these situations. Victory – 1 Glory – 1
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +4 minutes of stoppage time. Victory – 1 Glory – 1
Connor Bennett
Editor
89' Melbourne again causing problems down that right sideline. Ingham is the man with the ball and plenty of space. He fires the cross in for Berisha who was running the right line, but pulled up and lets the defence pick up the scraps. Another big chance for the Victory and time is just running out on them. Victory – 1 Glory – 1
Connor Bennett
Editor
88' SUBSTITUTION Brandon Wilson will come off after all that and it's Oxborrow who will come on. Melbourne are making a change as well, bringing on Beister in place of Rojas. A fairly big break after all that. Victory – 1 Glory – 1
Connor Bennett
Editor
87' Man down for Perth and the crowd again let out the boos for time wasting. Wilson is the man down for Glory and he's clutching at the leg but seems to be ok. Victory – 1 Glory – 1
Connor Bennett
Editor
86' Jai Ingham released down the right wing and he has the pace to reach it on the right edge of the penalty area. He has Berisha on the inside and hits the low cross off the first touch, but he just doesn't get enough on it and the Perth defence scrambles back to make the save. Victory – 1 Glory – 1
Connor Bennett
Editor
85' Perth now just beginning to play the ball around the backline and the Melbourne crowd send out a chorus of boos, they don't like the time wasting. Victory – 1 Glory – 1
Connor Bennett
Editor
84' A tussle for the ball through the midfield and it's the Glory who get away with the ball. The long ball down field can't find it's mark and Melbourne will get another chance to work the ball into the Perth half. Victory – 1 Glory – 1