Head Coach Tony Popovic believes that Sunday’s away clash with Central Coast Mariners represents another ‘dangerous’ game for his charges.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268486001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6022313482001
Glory will make the trip to Gosford six points clear at the top of the Hyundai A-League ladder after suffering just their second defeat of the season last time out, while the Mariners remain in tenth spot having endured a difficult campaign to date.
But Popovic was keen to stress that his side will need to be at their best in order to down the hosts who have shown clear signs of improvement since Alen Stajcic took over the coaching reins last month.
“Every game is a dangerous game,” he said.
“We’ve always respected our opponents and we will certainly respect Central Coast during our preparations.
“We’re playing away from home, which is never easy and you have to play well to get a result. But we feel that we are playing well and we’ll go there with the confidence and belief that we can come away with three points.”
He went on to note that while naturally disappointed at the result of last weekend’s clash with Melbourne Victory, he felt that there was still plenty to like about his side’s performance at HBF Park.
“We’ve reviewed the game and there are always things we can do better and they get highlighted a bit more if there’s a defeat,” he said.
“There were also a lot of good things. We lost a game of football in front of a fantastic crowd. We hadn’t lost one in a long time and we never said that we’d go through [the season] without losing.
“All along we wanted to create a possibility to challenge the big boys and we’re doing that.
“Melbourne Victory showed us the ultimate respect in the way they played and they got the result, but that also shows how far we’ve come and how we’ve evolved this season.
“That can only help us in the next big game we have at home.
“If we can get a little improvement in a few areas from the Victory game, that puts us in a good position to get the result we want [on Sunday].”
Popovic also hinted that he may consider shuffling his pack ahead of the Round 24 showdown.
“We’ll look at all the players and they all want to play,” he said.
“They are a group of players that are pushing each other every day and everyone wants to be involved and make an impact.
“There is a possibility that we could bring in a few different faces for this game.”
Glory ran out 4-1 winners on their last trip to Central Coast Stadium on New Year’s Eve, having also claimed three points when the two sides met at HBF Park in Round 5.
Match Details
Sunday, 7 April 2019
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-Off: 5:00PM (WST) (7:00PM (Local))
Referee: Daniel Elder
Assistant Referee 1: Owen Goldrick
Assistant Referee 2: Scott Edeling
Fourth Official: Ben Abraham
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7:00pm (AEST), Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand) and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers
Radio Broadcast: myfootballnation.com (Coast FM). ABC News on Radio, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Listen App – A-League Live
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash tag #CCMvPER
To purchase tickets visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 3.Jack CLISBY, 6. Tom HIARIEJ, 7. Andrew HOOLE, 8.Michael McGLINCHEY,11.Connor PAIN, 18.Matt MILLAR, 12.Adam PEARCE (gk), 13.Aiden O’NEILL, 15.Kye ROWLES, 19.Matt SIMON (c), 22.Jacob MELLING, 23.Mario SHABOW 25.Jordan MURRAY, 28.Sam GRAHAM, 29.Stephen MALLON
**one to be omitted**
Ins: 23.Mario SHABOW (promoted) & 28.Sam GRAHAM (promoted)
Outs: 68.Jem KARACAN (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: 10.Tommy OAR (knee injury – indefinite)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 3.Jason DAVIDSON, 4.Shane LOWRY, 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 9.Andy KEOGH, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 13.Matthew SPIRANOVIC, 16.Tomislav MRCELA, 17.Diego CASTRO, 19.Chris IKONOMIDIS, 20.Jake BRIMMER, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 23.Scott NEVILLE, 27.JUANDE, 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 88.Neil KILKENNY
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 13.Matthew SPIRANOVIC, 22.Fabio FERREIRA
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 2.Alex GRANT (abdominal injury – 2 weeks)
#OneGlory
