Glory ALW Head Coach Stephen Peters believes his side will need to resist a backlash from Friday’s opponents Central Coast Mariners if they are to make it two wins from two at HBF Park (kick-off at 5pm, tickets available HERE).
Listen to his full pre-match interview HERE
The women in purple are set to play in their second double-header at the venue this term having secured a 3-2 win over the Jets there back in Round 2.
But although the Mariners come into the game having suffered back-to-back defeats, Peters is expecting them to provide a stern test.
“I think there’s been some very good recruiting there from [Head Coach] Emily [Husband], particularly in [Jade]Pennock and [Brooke] Nunn.
“It looks like she’s really settled on some of the players from last year and is looking to play them more and more, which is good.
“It’s a group of players that I know quite well from versing Emily ands a lot of those players in the New South Wales NPL and it presents a challenge.
“No doubt after losing to Western United last week, in fact I think it was back-to-back losses after previously being undefeated, Emily will be highly-motivated to put it right.
“We’ll need to be on our guard as they are a tough team and it’ll be a good match-up for us.”
Glory will be looking to make it three games unbeaten having accounted for Adelaide United before drawing with Western Sydney Wanderers last Friday and the Head Coach is pleased with his side’s general trajectory.
“I think on the balance of play we probably deserved to win [against Wanderers],” he said, “but when you look at the genuine nature of the chances we created, they only really came after they [Wanderers] scored.
“Overall, I think we showed really good character, to come back considering they scored in the 86th minute.
“We asked [the players] for consistency of performances and I think we’ve performed really well the last three weeks when we’ve had a loss, a win and a draw.
“I don’t think there’s been too much of a difference between those performances.
“I think it’s come down the level of the opposition that we’ve been playing against on the day.
“Overall, I think we’re on the right path.”
In terms of early squad news, Peters confirmed that both Kelli Brown (knee) and Ella Abdul Massih will miss the Mariners clash and in the former’s case, could face up to six weeks on the sidelines.
Co-captain Izzy Dalton, however, is expected to return having recovered from the hamstring injury which ruled her out of the draw with Western Sydney and young WA striker Tanika Lala is also set to be added to the extended squad.
Glory will be seeking a first ever home win over the Mariners who have claimed maximum points from each of their previous two visits to WA.
The Gosford-based side have won two, lost two and drawn three of their seven games thus far this term, with Annalise Rasmussen helping herself to three goals.
Former Glory ‘keeper Sarah Langman, meanwhile, has started every game of the campaign, but is yet to keep a clean sheet.
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2024/25 Season Round 8
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
HBF Park
Friday 27 December 2024
Kick-off: 5:00pm WST
(pic courtesy of Chris Andrawes)
#ONEGlory
