Glory Head Coach David Zdrilic believes that a watertight defence is the key to securing the club’s first home victory of the season when Western United visit HBF Park on Friday evening (kick-off at 6:45pm, tickets available HERE).
Click HERE to view his full pre-match media conference
The men in purple have kept two clean sheets on the road this term, in the Round 3 draw with Central Coast Mariners and the Round 9 win over Brisbane Roar a fortnight ago.
But last week’s 3-0 defeat against Macarthur FC meant that they are yet to achieve a shutout on home soil this term and the Head Coach is desperate for that to change.
“Against Macarthur, I thought we were quite comfortable and then it’s just a ball over the top and it ends up in a goal,” he said.
“We haven’t got to half-time keeping a clean sheet [at home] and you see the results that we’ve got away from home have always been on the back of having a good solid defensive performance.
“Then we’re able to at least keep ourselves in the game.
“That’s been a big factor and something we’ve spoken about.
“It’s definitely something we’ve addressed.”
Glory last faced Western United a little over a month ago, eventually losing 3-1 after taking the lead early in the second half and while not underestimating John Aloisi’s side, Zdrilic is adamant that his charges have what it takes to avenge that defeat.
“I was very happy with our first sixty to seventy minutes against them last time,” he said.
“I thought that was a game where they had a couple of chances, but we also created and that was some of the best counter-attacking football that we’d played up to that point in the season.
“We scored a very good goal and had some other good chances, but again we got caught out by a set-piece which gave them a way back into the game and they killed us off with two goals in quick succession, which has been the story of our season.
“They’re a team that has won three in a row… and they’re playing with confidence.
“It’s another big challenge, but one that we’re ready for.
“We’re ready to go again.”
The Head Coach went on to confirm that he is expecting to bolster his squad with a number of new recruits during January.
“We’re proactive and we’re not going to sit and wait to the end of the season to make changes,” he said.
“We tend to focus on the results now and clearly everyone’s disappointed and I’m the most disappointed of all, but I also know how much needs to change at this club and that starts with personnel.
“In terms of the team, there will be changes coming and hopefully very soon.
“We need to freshen up the team.
“We’re going to keep continuing to strengthen the squad as best we can and we’ll definitely be doing that in this [transfer] window.”
In terms of early squad news, meanwhile, Zdrilic confirmed that Brandon O’Neill is a chance to return to action on Friday having missed the last two games due to the effects of a concussion sustained against Newcastle Jets in Round 8.
Nikola Mileusnic and Anas Hamzaoui are also back in training and closing in on a return to full fitness, but David Williams’ season is sadly over as the experienced frontman sustained an ACL injury in the first half of last week’s home meeting with Macarthur.
Friday’s opponents failed to win any of their opening four games of the campaign, but since downing Glory in Round 5, have collected ten points from a possible 15.
Aloisi’s side have also kept consecutive clean sheets in their last two games which saw them defeat Auckland FC and Brisbane Roar respectively.
Among their standout performers this term have been Hiroshi Ibusuki who has hit the net four times and boasts a record of seven goals in seven appearances against Glory.
Fellow-forward Noah Botic has contributed three goals and four assists, while goalkeeper Matthew Sutton and key midfielder Angus Thurgate have played every minute of every game to date.
The previous four meetings between the two sides in WA have yielded an even split of two wins apiece.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2024-25 Season Round 11
Perth Glory v Western United
HBF Park
Friday 3 January 2025
Kick-off: 6:45pm WST
Perth Glory squad: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 2.Riley WARLAND, 5.Lachlan BARR, 6.Brandon O’NEILL, 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON, 12.Taras GOMULKA, 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 14.Nathanael BLAIR, 15.Zach LISOLAJSKI, 16.Adam BUGARIJA, 17.Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Trent OSTLER, 21.Abdul FAISAL, 22.Adam TAGGART, 24.Andriano LEBIB, 26.Khoa NGO, 27.Will FRENEY, 29.Tomi MRCELA, 31.Joel ANASMO
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 5.Lachlan BARR, 6.Brandon O’NEILL, 31.Joel ANASMO
Outs: 9.David WILLIAMS
Unavailable: 3.Anas HAMZAOUI (injured), 9.David WILLIAMS (injured), 10.Nikola MILEUSNIC (injured)
Western United squad: 1. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7. Ramy NAJJARINE, 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10. Matthew GRIMALDI, 13. Tate RUSSELL, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Noah BOTIC, 20. Abel WALATEE, 22. Kane VIDMAR, 23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 24. Michael RUHS, 29. Charbel SHAMOON, 30. Dylan LEONARD, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matthew SUTTON (gk), 34. James YORK, 37. Luke VICKERY, 44. Jordan LAUTON, 77. Riku DANZAKI
Ins: 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 34. James YORK, 37. Luke VICKERY (promoted)
Outs: 14. Jake NAJDOVSKI (omitted)
Unavailable: 4. James DONACHIE (injured), 21. Sebastian PASQUALI (injured), 43. Khoder KADDOUR (injured)
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