The Roar's A-League Men tips and predictions: Round 26 - the jostle for finals positions is on in earnest
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Western Sydney Wanderers coach Markus Babbel is taking things one game at a time having watched his side slumped to a sixth consecutive A-League defeat.
A goal in each half from defenders Gregory Wuthrich and Alex Grant gave Perth Glory a 2-0 win at HBF Park on Saturday night as they leapfrogged the Wanderers to move into the top six.
With speculation mounting around his future at the club, Babbel’s focus is firmly on next weekend’s clash with Western United at Bankwest Stadium.
“The next game is the most important game, it doesn’t matter what happens in January or now,” he said.
“We will find ways how we can play against Western United and it’s up to us to do the right things.
“We are not ready for the little details and that has hurt us a couple of times now.”
Wanderers continue to slide down the A-League ladder but with no possibility of relegation, Babbel admitted that the level of pressure is different to other competitions across the globe.
“The big thing here is nothing can happen,” he said.
“In Europe it is a bit different, if you are struggling as a club then there is pressure on.
“The worst scenario [in the A-League] is you finish last and start next year again.”
Babbel was critical of his side’s inability to create chances in the final third as they registered just three shots on target over the course of the 90 minutes.
For the Glory, it was a second successive clean sheet and a first home win of the season ahead of another fixture in Perth, this time against the Newcastle Jets.
“The road trips are always difficult for us and it’s nice to come home now,” said coach Tony Popovic.
“It was a tough week with the conditions we’ve had unfortunately but the players dealt with that very well today and hopefully it will be a bit cooler next week.”
© AAP
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Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
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