Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold has issued a warning to chasing A-League rivals Melbourne Victory, declaring “we’ll just beat them” on Australia Day.
The January 26 big blue at Etihad Stadium is shaping as vital to both teams’ title aspirations as Victory edge closer to Arnold’s unbeaten runaway leaders.
Western Sydney slowed Sydney’s charge towards the Premiers’ Plate on Saturday night, holding their fierce rivals to a scoreless draw at Allianz Stadium that cut their seven-point lead at the top to five.
Victory, meanwhile, claimed their sixth-straight win on Friday night, clinging on to see off Brisbane 3-2 after Besart Berisha’s controversial dismissal at AAMI Park.
With a game in hand – their rescheduled clash with Wellington will be played on Tuesday – Kevin Muscat’s men are in prime position to launch a summer raid on their interstate rivals.
And in a massive boost they’ll have Berisha in their arsenal, after the match review panel rescinded the Albanian marksman’s straight red card on the grounds it had been issued in “obvious error”.
Arnold conceded Sydney lacked their usual attacking firepower against the Wanderers, who were denied a clear-cut penalty in the first half that infuriated Tony Popovic.
But he hosed down any suggestion he was starting to feel the pressure.
“We’ll just beat them, we have to beat them,” Arnold said.
“We’re on 37 points. In the past, teams have won the minor premiership with 50.
“We’ve still got 12 games to go so we’re in a fantastic position.
“Always as a coach you want to be able to control your own destiny, and we’re not relying on others to beat other teams, we’ve just got to get on with what we can do.”
While Sydney prepare for another home fixture against lowly Adelaide on Friday night, Victory will navigate a far more gruelling schedule, flying to New Zealand to face the Phoenix on Tuesday before travelling to Perth to play the Glory on Saturday.
After that comes the big blue, and then the third derby against Melbourne City.
Those three weeks could define Victory’s championship push, but Muscat was buoyed by his side’s recent form.
“We are scoring goals freely, we will travel with a spring in our step,” Muscat said.
City remain in third, two points ahead of fourth-placed Brisbane but 14 points adrift of the summit after being pegged back by Adelaide in a stunning 2-1 upset.
Young substitute Mark Ochieng scored a dramatic 87th-minute winner at Coopers Stadium to lift the last-placed Reds off the bottom of the table and leave Central Coast wallowing in the wooden-spoon position following their 1-0 loss to the Phoenix.
Meanwhile, Newcastle and Perth remain in the top six after playing out a 2-2 draw marred by a controversial penalty and late red card to Rostyn Griffiths.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Called it :D
Fadida
Guest
Agree. Big banana skin
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The 'Nix looked dangerous last week as their front three are finally gelling. The trip to Windy Wellington has just become somewhat more challenging.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
And at that stage Adelaide were playing worse and Sydney were playing better. I suspect Mr Arnold should concentrate on the Reds.
At work
Roar Rookie
Arnie certainly creates the headlines, great for free promotion.
Nemesis
Guest
I reckon Sydney will lose the next 3 matches. They've got to still play City (twice), Victory (twice), Roar (away) Perth (away), NIX (away). Plus another away Derby. This is why the ALeague Premiership is so much more interesting than the Championship. If you're the best after 27 matches over 7 months, playing at every venue in the competition, then you are the best football team in Australia.
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
Jeez, as much as I find Arnie annoying, isn't he good for the promotion of the league. Quality banter.
Franko
Guest
Jeeze I hope my Adelaide boys can knock off Sydney this Friday night. 0-0 last time at SFS and both teams had chances to win it.
JB
Guest
No problem when you have the refs on your team, as Sydney has all season