Glory Head Coach Alex Epakis is adamant that his side will maintain their fearless approach in Sunday’s clash with Brisbane Roar at Lions FC Stadium (kick-off at 3.05pm WST).
The Queenslanders, who were among the pre-season title favourites, are currently second on the ladder having picked up four wins and four draws from their eight games to date and thumped leaders Sydney FC 4-1 in their most recent outing.
But although Thursday’s defeat at Western Sydney leaves Glory still searching for their maiden victory of the campaign, Epakis is adamant that his players will be undaunted by their opponents.
“Brisbane are going to be another level up,” he said.
“They’ve got even more experience and some really good quality players all around the field.
“But if Thursday night is the benchmark and we can give ourselves another level on that, we go into the game being able to potentially compete.
“We’re not going to go there holding back.
“We’re going to go there, like we did on Thursday, looking to find a way to win and be ambitious in what we can do.”
One of the main positives to come out of the defeat at Marconi Stadium were the impressive performances produced by some of the squad’s youngest members and Epakis was thrilled to see the likes of Taneesha Baker, Tijan McKenna and Hana Lowry again displaying a level of maturity which belied their tender years.
“I can’t tell you how much it means to me when I see those young players come on, put all the fear anxiety aside and just go for it,” he said.
“It’s a special feeling, but so is winning and we want to win and hopefully we’re closer.
“We’ve got a saying in the team that we’re all in for every tackle and we’re all in when we have the ball.
“It’s there for people to see; the players are really believing in what we’re doing and you can see that in their performances.”
Glory are set to renew acquaintances with some familiar faces on Sunday, with Morgan Aquino, Kim Carroll and Leticia McKenna all set to line up against their former club.
And it will be a particularly special day for the McKenna family as sisters Tijan and Leticia prepare to go head-to-head for the first time at W-League level.
Glory will be seeking a first victory over Roar since December 2016 with the last four meetings between the two clubs having produced two draws and two victories for the women in orange.
In terms of early team news, Liz Anton has shrugged off a facial injury and is set to feature again at Lions FC Stadium, as is Malia Steinmetz who was forced from the fray by cramp on Thursday evening.
Match Details
Sunday, 21 February 2021
Brisbane Roar FC v Perth Glory
Lions Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-Off: 3:05pm (WST)(5:05pm (Local))
Referee: Kelly Jones
Assistant Referee 1: Renae Coghill
Assistant Referee 2: Mi Suk Park
Fourth Official: Lara Lee
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 506 from 3:00pm (WST), Sky Sport 9 (New Zealand), Kayo Sports (www.kayosports.com.au) and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #BRIvPER
To purchase tickets visit www.w-league.com.au/tickets
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Georgina WORTH (gk), 2.Kaitlyn TORPEY, 4.Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 6.Winonah HEATLEY, 7.Kim CARROLL, 8.Mariel HECHER, 11.Sharn FREIER, 12.Larissa CRUMMER, 13.Tameka YALLOP, 14.Leticia MCKENNA, 15.Emily GIELNIK, 16.Jamilla RANKIN, 19.Rebekah HORSEY, 21.Morgan AQUINO (gk), 22.Anna MARGRAF, 23.Isobel DALTON, 25.Olivia CHANCE, 28.Cassandra ZAFFINA (gk)
**2 to be omitted**
Ins: 1.Georgina WORTH (returns from injury), 12.Larissa CRUMMER (new signing)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 9.Rosie SUTTON (knee), 10.Katrina GORRY (unavailable)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Lily ALFELD (gk), 2.Sarah CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 5.Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE, 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 7.Elizabeth ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Malia STEINMETZ, 10.Alexia MORENO, 11.Patricia CHARALAMBOUS, 12.Sarah MORGAN, 14.Caitlin DOEGLAS, 16.Isabella WALLHEAD, 17.Marianna TABAIN, 18.Taneesha BAKER, 20.Rebecca BENNETT (gk)
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 3.Gemma CRAINE (hamstring – season)
#OneGlory
