Head Coach Stephen Peters is keen for his Glory side to keep evolving in Saturday’s Distance Derby clash with Wellington Phoenix at Porirua Park (kick-off at 11:00am WST, watch live and FREE on 10Play).
Watch Stephen’s full pre-match media conference HERE
The women in purple will head across the Tasman looking to bounce back from a desperately unfortunate 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Central Coast Mariners last time out.
And while acknowledging the challenges provided by the 5000km journey and five-hour time difference, Peters believes his side have what it takes to produce a match-winning performance.
“The trip is what it is,” he said.
“We can’t think about it too much, we’ve just got to think about the football aspect and try and prepare the players as best we can and try and have an energetic performance.
“We’re looking forward to it… we look forward to any opportunity we get to go out and fight for three points.
“We’re making fantastic strides as a team.
“Our attack has actually improved, even though it’s not showing in terms of the goals we’re scoring.
“If you actually look at the style that we’re playing, we are evolving as a team and are creating better opportunities.
“There are just those small margins that we’re not managing 100% and we have to better at those to turn 1-0 losses into 1-0 wins.
“The thing that’s eluded us is the clean sheet.. so moving forward, we really need to keep fighting for that clean sheet and that is probably where our next bit of evolution is for the team.”
Glory will be up against a Phoenix side which downed reigning ALW Champions Sydney FC 2-0 in their most recent home outing and Peters is expecting them to provide a stern test.
“I think Wellington are an excellent side,” he said.
“They are probably the closest team in terms of what we’re trying to do.
“They’re very similar… they’re in the opposition’s face a lot and causing a lot of errors in the opposition’s back third.
“So it’s going to be a pretty interesting match-up and from all reports, they’re quite a physical team as well.
“It’s going to be tough, but I think if we play our game and get ourselves into the game the way we want to, I think we’ll be right in it.”
Glory are set to be without a number of likely starters for the Round 9 fixture, including Kelli Brown, Tijan McKenna, Sarah O’Donoghue and Ella Abdul Massih, but Peters remained philosophical on the subject.
“The injuries haven’t been very kind to us, but that’s all part of football,” he said.
“Every team goes through it and it just provides the next opportunity for someone to step up and put in a shift like Charli Wainwright has done in the last couple of weeks.
“She’s done an exceptional job.”
Phoenix come into Saturday’s contest sitting two points and two places above Glory in the ALW table having been pipped 2-1 by Melbourne City last time out.
Paul Temple’s side have generally been involved in low-margin games this term, scoring nine goals and conceding ten in their eight fixtures to date.
Former Glory striker Grace Jale has claimed one of those goals, Annalie Longo has bagged two and also added an assist, while Portuguese goalkeeper Carolina Vilao has kept two clean sheets and currently has a save percentage of 75.7.
The clash at Porirua Park will be the fourth between the two sides on the chilly side of the Tasman, with Glory having enjoyed two victories to Wellington’s one.
Match Details
Ninja A-League 2024-25 Season Round 10
Wellington Phoenix v Perth Glory
Porirua Park
Saturday 4 January 2025
Kick-off: 11:00am WST
Wellington Phoenix squad: 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 14. Mebae TANAKA, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 17. Ela JEREZ, 19. Liv INGHAM, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk)
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 17. Ela JEREZ
Outs: 8. Amelia ABBOTT
Unavailable: 18. Ella MCCANN (injured), 23. Rebecca LAKE (injured)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Casey DUMONT, 2.Mischa ANDERSON, 4.Claudia VALLETTA, 5.Grace JOHNSTON, 7.Megan WYNNE, 8.Georgia CASSIDY, 9.Gabby HOLLAR, 11.Natalie TATHEM, 13.Naomi CHINNAMA, 14.Miku SUNAGA, 17.Morgan ROBERTS, 18.Isabella FOLETTA, 21.Miranda TEMPLEMAN (gk), 22.Ischia BROOKING, 23.Izzy DALTON (co-c), 26.Tanika LALA, 27.Charli WAINWRIGHT, 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG (co-c)
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 2.Mischa ANDERSON, 4.Claudia VALLETTA
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 6.Tijan MCKENNA (injured), 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM (injured), 16.Bella WALLHEAD (injured), 19.Sarah O’DONOGHUE (injured), 20.Ella ABDUL MASSIH (injured), 44.Kelli BROWN (injured)
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