Head Coach Stephen Peters feels that his Glory Women’s side need to back themselves in when they take on old rivals Canberra United in Sunday’s Unite Round clash at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (kick-off at 10:30am WST, watch live and FREE on 10Play).
View Stephen’s full pre-match media conference HERE
Glory head back to the east coast off the back of a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brisbane Roar on Friday, a result which left them with a tally of three points from their opening three games.
And while conceding that his charges were second-best at Perry Park, Peters feels that they have plenty of scope to improve.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to acknowledge when a team is better on the night and Brisbane were certainly that,” he said.
“It was a hard one to take, but a valuable lesson for us.
“We need to be more confident and control the ball a little more.
“Friday’s game was the highest percentage of possession that we’ve had out of the three games so far, so that is a positive.
“We’ve just got to keep building those combinations with the players.”
Sunday’s opponents, meanwhile, will be led from the front by the competition’s all-time leading goalscorer, Michelle Heyman and Glory’s Head Coach is keenly aware of the quality the 36-year-old Matilda brings.
“Michelle is a massive name in the league and a huge threat for them, so obviously we need to be mindful of that,” he said.
“They’re very unified as a team.
“They’ve defended as a unit for the three games that they’ve played and had back-to-back wins to start the season.
“I think they probably wouldn’t have liked their performance last week, so we need to be wary of what Canberra we’re coming up against on Sunday.”
On the squad front, meanwhile, Peters had mixed news to report.
“We’re getting more and more players available,” he said, “although there is an injury cloud over Kelli [Brown] with her ankle from the Jets game.
“She played through that on Friday; she was quite a warrior there.
“We’ll do what’s best for her and the team this Sunday.
“Megan [Wynne] trained today and is in good spirits and we’re looking forward to welcoming her back.”
In addition to Heyman, United have a number of other players to look out for, including former Glory trio Liz Anton, Aideen Keane and Sally James, lively forward Maja Markovski, who has already scored twice this term and experienced midfielder Emma Robers.
The last five meetings between Glory and Canberra have yielded an aggregate of 24 goals, with each side collecting a win apiece and the other three games ending all-square.
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2024/25 Season Matchday 4
Canberra United v Perth Glory
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Sunday 24 November 2024
Kick-off: 10:30am WST (1:30pm Local Time)
Canberra United squad: 1. Sally JAMES, 2. Alex MCKENZIE, 3. Elizabeth ANTON, 4. Holly MURRAY, 7. Jynaya DOS SANTOS, 9. Ruby NATHAN, 10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY, 11. Emma ROBERS, 12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG, 13. Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON, 17. Maja MARKOVSKI, 18. Coco MAJSTORIVIC, 19. Jaya BOWMAN, 20. Lillian SKELLY, , 23. Michelle HEYMAN, 25. Darcey MALONE, 28. Tegan BERTOLISSIO
(One to be omitted)
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 32. Bethany GORDON (injured)
Perth Glory squad: 21.Miranda TEMPLEMAN (gk), 2.Mischa ANDERSON, 5.Grace JOHNSTON, 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 7.Megan WYNNE, 8.Georgia CASSIDY, 9.Gabby HOLLAR, 11.Natalie TATHEM, 13.Naomi CHINNAMA, 14.Miku SUNAGA, 17.Morgan ROBERTS, 18.Isabella FOLETTA, 19.Sarah O’DONOGHUE, 20.Ella ABDUL MASSIH, 23.Izzy DALTON (c), 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG, 30.Jessica SKINNER (gk), 44.Kelli BROWN
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 2.Mischa ANDERSON, 7.Megan WYNNE, 18.Isabella FOLETTA
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 1.Casey DUMONT (gk) (not yet available), 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM (injured), 16.Bella WALLHEAD (injured)
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