One of the most exciting Hyundai A-League matches of the season will kick-off at nib Stadium on Saturday night with plenty of pride and points on the line.
Perth Glory FC hosts Hyundai A-League champions Melbourne Victory in what will be the final regular league match of the season between the two rivals.
Glory, buoyed by its massive 6-1 slaying of the Newcastle Jets last weekend, will be aiming for victory as it aspires for a sixth consecutive undefeated A-League match against the champions.
Victory head into the ROUND 17 match after a narrow 1-0 win over Sydney FC.
Glory coach Kenny Lowe said history counted for nothing and all eyes were focused on Saturday night.
“They haven’t had a bad spell they haven’t had what you’d call a form drop they’ve just had a results drop” he said
“They’re trying to push back on the top of the table, they’ve got Champions League coming up as well, they’re focused on what they want to do and they’ll be a tough side to crack but you know we’re in a good state of mind at the moment but I’m sure it will be a good game”.
Perth boosted its playing stocks this week after signing Perth born defender Shane Lowry and WA’s Socceroos striker Adam Taggart.
“I’ve pestered him in the last couple of years and we’ve kept in contact and you always hope” Lowe said of Taggart’s return to the club.”
“We want quality WA players to play for this steam…mind you he’s got to show it” joked Lowe.
22-year old Taggart re-joined Glory after spending the pat 18-months in the UK with Championship club Fulham who loaned him to Scottish Premier League club Dundee United.
Taggart’s move to the UK during the first 12 months were hampered by a frustrating groin injury and returned to Perth to get his career back on track.
“I came back for the right reasons and not to just come home. I supported the club since I was a little boy and so it’s extra special to come back but it’s a great opportunity to work under Kenny and under Ordy (Asst. coach Andrew Ord) who I know really well.
Taggart spent two years at Glory between 2010-2012.
He made the move to Newcastle Jets the following season and was awarded the golden boot after scoring 16 goals in season 13/14.
“It was sad to leave because I was a supporter of the club but I left to obviously grow as a footballer and as a person. The last year and a-half, being away from Australia, I think more as a person has been more of a focus on developing for me” he said.
“At the moment I’m training with the club and in my mind it’s about preparing for next season. It’s a unique situation where people can’t play football for a time period like this. I haven’t come here to sit on my back side and do nothing. All my focus is on next season and training with the boys and throwing my support for the club and trying to help them at training as much as I can for them to push on to make the finals this year.”
Kick-off between Glory and Victory is at 6.40pm.
Tickets can be purchased here.
MATCH DETAILS
Saturday, 30 January 2016
Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory
nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-Off: 6:40 PM (Local) (9:40 PM (AEDT)
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referee 1: Josh Mannella
Assistant Referee 2: James Tesoriero
Fourth Official: Adam Fielding
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 9.30pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 720 ABC Perth, 774 ABC Melbourne, ABC Local Radio WA, ABC Local Radio Vic, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvMVC
Perth Glory squad: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Marc WARREN, 4.Shane LOWRY, 7.Gyorgy SANDOR, 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA (c), 12.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 19.Josh RISDON, 24.Jamal REINERS, 28.Joe KNOWLES, 29.Aryn WILLIAMS, 31.Ross MILLARD
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 4.Shane LOWRY (new signing), 28.Joe KNOWLES (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 6.Dino DJULBIC (UPDATED: 4-6 weeks), 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite), 23. Michael THWAITE (released)
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 2.Jason GERIA, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 4.Nick ANSELL, 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 6.Leigh BROXHAM (c), 7.Gui FINKLER, 8.Besart BERISHA, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 13.Oliver BOZANIC, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 17.Matthieu DELPIERRE, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 22.Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 23.Jai INGHAM, 24.Thomas DENG
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 3.Scott GALLOWAY (promoted), 24.Thomas DENG (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 21.Carl VALERI (ill – indefinite)
