Head Coach Alex Epakis is expecting a positive reaction from his side when they take on Adelaide United in a crunch Liberty A-League clash at Service FM Stadium on Saturday (kick-off at 12pm WST).
A late equaliser from Western Sydney Wanderers brought Glory’s four-match winning streak to an end at Macedonia Park last weekend and prevented them from applying further pressure to fourth-placed Melbourne Victory.
But Epakis was not overly perturbed by the result.
“It could be a motivating factor to get us back up and going and finding another level,” he said.
“Obviously there was a bit of a sour taste in our mouths after that result, but we’re still six undefeated and in a really healthy position and I’m certainly backing the players to go one step further.
“Just through being invested in the competition, you are looking at the table and looking at other teams, but we need to do our best to retain our own focus on ourselves,
“As I said this time last week, we just have to keep our own house in order and if we do that, I’m pretty confident that things can work in our favour.”
Glory will head across the border to face an Adelaide side which won four of its first five games of the season, but subsequently dropped off and is now searching for a first victory since mid-December.
One of the early-season wins did come over Glory, however and Epakis is wary of the challenge that Adrian Stenta’s charges will present.
“Adelaide, for me, are a team that I respect as an opposition,” he said.
“They are well coached and are a cohesive unit with some very strong players and a clear structure in how they play.
“So it’s a fantastic test for us.
“They may not have the form at the moment that they’d like, but they do have some fantastic players and players who can do damage.
“We just have to make sure that we are well prepared.
“It was a tight tussle earlier in the season when we played against them and they got the better of us, so we’re going to be doing our best to overturn that result this coming weekend.”
In terms of early team news, the Head Coach confirmed that Susan Phonsongkham’s foot problem will again rule her out, but that no fresh injuries were picked up in the draw with Western Sydney.
As for the hosts, they come into the game off the back of a dramatic 4-2 defeat at the hands of Canberra United, a result which leaves them occupying ninth place in the table with 14 points.
Among their most impressive performers this season have been attacking midfielder Chelsie Dawber, who has scored four goals and provided two assists, goalkeeper Annalee Grove, who has started every game and kept four clean sheets and experienced Dutch import Maruschka Waldus, who has been a cornerstone of their defence.
Glory have won just one of the last eight meetings between the two sides, but overall, have claimed maximum points in this fixture on 13 occasions to the Reds’ seven.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2022/23 Season Round 17
Adelaide United v Perth Glory
Service FM Stadium
Saturday 11 March 2023
Kick-off: 12pm WST
Adelaide United squad: 1.Annalee GROVE (gk), 2.Emily HODGSON, 4.Erin KONTOUTSIKOS, 6.Jenna McCORMICK, 7.MelindaJ BARBIERI, 9.Paige HAYWARD, 12.Nanako SASAKI, 14.Meisha WESTLAND, 15.Katie BOWLER, 16.Dylan HOLMES, 17.Zoe TOLLAND, 19.Maruschka WALDUS, 20.Jenna FARROW (gk), 23.Fiona WORTS
Ins: Nil
Outs: 3.Hannah HOLGERSEN (knee), 11.Isabel HODGSON
Unavailable: 8.Emily CONDON (groin), 13.Ella TONKIN (foot), 18.Sasha COOREY (knee), 22.Emilia MURRAY (international duty), 26.Grace WILSON (international duty)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Morgan AQUINO (gk), 3.Kim CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Demi KOULIZAKIS, 12.Sofia SAKALIS, 13.Sarah CAIN, 14.Hannah BLAKE, 15.Cyera HINTZEN, 16.Isabella WALLHEAD, 17.Abbey GREEN, 18.Sadie LAWRENCE, 19.Izzy FOLETTA, 20.Sarah LANGMAN (gk), 21.Ella MASTRANTONIO, 23.Alana JANCEVSKI
Ins: 16.Isabella WALLHEAD
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 6.Tijan MCKENNA (international duty), 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM (injured), 11.Rylee BAISDEN (injured), 24.Milan HAMMOND (injured)
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