Kenny Lowe says the Round 6 clash against Sydney FC this weekend will be business as usual when he returns to the front line on Sunday.
Since being named the A-League Manager of the Round in Round 3, where he masterminded a memorable victory against glamour club Melbourne City, the passionate manager was suspended due to his emotional half-time outburst during the big scalp.
Lowe believes his presence won’t change anything come Sunday.
“We go about our business no different to what we’ve done since I’ve been at the club and it doesn’t matter who it is,” Lowe said.
“Ultimate respect for who you play but have the utter belief that you can get something out of the game and you know, I’m really looking forward to going there.”
Despite having to sit on the side lines against Brisbane and Western Sydney, Lowe has faith in his side’s strengths to gather some steam in the coming weeks.
“We’re in a good place. We got a good group. Everyone’s focused. We seem to be up there with the top four teams in the country I think, at the moment, in the league so I think there’s a fair bit of momentum there and we’re going to the best team in the league at the present second so we’ll find whether there is any momentum or not but I think we’re in a good place.”
Sydney are yet to lose a game under coach Graham Arnold this season, having only conceded the one goal in the process and while Lowe is aware they will be very confident of continuing that rich vein of form, he belives his side can take the Sky Blues down a peg.
“I think they’ll be absolutely buzzing. Their confidence is gonna be sky high. They’re a very good team. Their front six is as good as anything I’ve seen in the time I’ve been in the A-League.”
“They’ve got a guy who runs it, who’s very organised and methodical and he knows what he wants and he drives his ship. Well you can see how he drives it Arnie (Graham Arnold) so we’re gonna have one hell of a tough game but it’s not a game that I don’t think we can not win. I think it’s a game we can win and we’ll be going there with a desire to do that. “
Sydney got the better of Perth earlier in the season in the FFA Cup Round of 16 defeating Glory 2-0 at Dorrien Gardens and Lowe is looking forward to returning the favour this weekend.
“You know they’re the best team at the moment. You know at the time Melbourne had come off an unbelievable performance when we went there. Sydney have had five unbelievable performances so we’re going there so I’m sure our guys are really looking forward to it. I certainly am for many reasons. One that I can get back to work but it’s a great place to go and they’re a super team so you want to embrace the challenge.”
The match kicks off at 2pm at Allianz Stadium.
Fox Sports will broadcast the clash live on Fox Sports 505 from 1.30pm (WST)
Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Round 6 – Remembrance Round
Sunday, 13 November 2016
Sydney FC v Perth Glory
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-Off: 2:00PM (WST) 5:00PM (AEDT)
Referee: Peter Green
Assistant Referee 1: Scott Edeling
Assistant Referee 2: Kearney Robinson
Fourth Official: Kurt Ams
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on Fox Sports 505 from 1.30pm (WST) and 4.30pm(AEDT) on Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: Online and via the ABC Radio Phone App, EON Sports Radio (eonsportsradio.com)
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #SYDvPER
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au
Sydney FC squad: 1.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6.Joshua BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.BOBÔ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Bernie IBINI, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 17.David CARNEY, 18.Matt SIMON, 19.George BLACKWOOD, 20.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 22.Sebastian RYALL, 23.Rhyan GRANT
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 11.Bernie IBINI (promoted), 19.George BLACKWOOD (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Perth Glory squad: 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Marc WARREN, 4.Shane LOWRY, 5.Rhys WILLIAMS, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 8.Rostyn GRIFFITHS (c), 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 13.Nicholas FEELY (gk), 14.Chris HAROLD, 16.Joe MILLS, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 20.Aryn WILLIAMS, 23.Kosta PETRATOS, 24.Milan SMILJANIC, 33.Liam REDDY (gk)
Ins: 3.Marc WARREN (promoted), 4.Shane LOWRY (promoted), 18.Mitch OXBORROW (promoted), 20.Aryn WILLIAMS (promoted)
Outs: 15.Brandon WILSON (quad – 1 week), 19.Josh RISDON (international duty – 1 week)
Unavailable: 22.Adam TAGGART (calf – 1 week)
**two to be omitted**
Glory Facts and Stats
- Perth Glory has scored seven of its 11 goals so far this season in the opening 15 minutes of each half, three more than any other team in the competition.
- Sydney FC has attempted 69 shots at goal so far this season, more than any other side in the league, though Perth Glory (63) has attempted the third most.
- Andy Keogh has hit more shots on target than any other player this season (11) and as a result has the best shooting accuracy (91.7%) of any player (minimum five shots).
- Andy keogh is second in the goalscoring charts with four goals this season – two behind Bruno Fornaroli who played Thursday night.
- Nebosja Marinkovic has created 12 chances in his five appearances this season.
- Perth Glory are ranked second when it comes to goals scored this season with 12 – One goal behind Sydney FC.
- Perth Glory are second in average goals per game with 2.20 but are again second to Sydney who have a 2.60 average.
- Perth are second in the league for shots (exlcudes blocked shots) with 51 while Sydney lead with 62.
- Perth are the league leaders in % of shots on target with 58.8% whilst Sydney FC are in fifth with 43.5%.
- Perth Glory have created the leagues most amount of big chances (15) with Sydney sitting in third (14).
- Perth Glory have the best cross completion in the league with 34.8%. Sydney are third with 27%.
- Glory are second in shot conversion with 21.6% – Sydney are only marginally behind in thrid (21%).
- Perth are top of the charts when it comes to Duels Won with a 55.7% whilst Sydney are 6th with 49.1%.
- Josh Risdon has made 18 interceptions in the A-League this season.
- Liam Reddy, Josh Risdon and Dino Djulbic are the only three players to have played every minute of A-League football so far (450).
- Milan Smiljanic has a passing accuracy of 86.7% in his four appearances while Brandon Wilson sits top with 89.4%.
- Alex Grant has wo 85% of his duels this season – the best in the Glory side this year. Next best is Dino Djulbic with 75%.
- Rhys Williams has still won 100% of all his tackles in the A-League this season. Marc Warren is second with 87.5%.
- Chris Harold has won a remarkable 21 fouls this season.
