Despite being without three key players for tomorrow’s Australia Day match, Head Coach Mike Mulvey is feeling confident of his team reaching another level of improvement against Perth Glory at nib Stadium.
Despite being without three key players for tomorrow-s Australia Day match, Head Coach Mike Mulvey is feeling confident of his team reaching another level of improvement against Perth Glory at nib Stadium.
The performance in last Sunday-s round 17 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers was a step up from the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle Jets the match prior and Mulvey said the side showed signs of more progress during the week.
Brisbane haven-t beaten the Glory since last season-s epic Hyundai A-League decider, with the team from the west securing two 1-0 wins over their Grand Final foes in the current campaign.
Historically, the Roar has a solid record over Perth with 14 wins from their 24 meetings, including seven of the 11 games played in Western Australia.
“It-s always a tough game travelling west,” said Head Coach Mike Mulvey.
“The situation is that we don-t fear going to any ground in the country, we-ll be well prepared and we-ll give a good account of ourselves.
“What I-ve seen on the training paddock again has backed up what I saw last week.
“Last week was the best week of training since I-ve arrived and this week has been equally good.”
The Roar are without suspended pair Shane Stefanutto and Besart Berisha, both who picked up their fifth yellow card of the season against the Wanderers, and captain Matt Smith who is two weeks away from a return to action with a hip injury.
The Glory are without two players themselves – Josh Risdon will miss the Australia Day fixture after his send-off against Melbourne Victory last Saturday while Liam Miller has also picked him his fifth bookable offence and will serve his one match suspension this week as well.
“We understand that we-re a bit depleted in terms of players not available for one reason or another but we-re giving every confidence to the players that we-ve got,” Mulvey said.
“They-d love a win but we-d love a win as well.
“It-s a really important game, it-s our next game and all our games are important.”
Goalkeeper Michael Theo will captain the team in the absence of skipper Smith and suspended vice-captain Stefanutto.
The club-s 19-year-old National Youth League captain Corey Brown, a natural left-back, will start in Stefanutto-s place while Berisha-s vacant spot in the Roar attack is likely to be filled by James Meyer.
“We saw a little glimpse of it last week when Corey came on,” Mulvey said.
“He acquitted himself quite well, it-ll be a test for him this week against Travis Dodd but I-m willing back him up.
“James has trained well over the past two days in the wide right position and he can also play up top as well.”
The Roar squad travelled to Perth this morning ahead of tomorrow-s 7pm kick-off at nib Stadium.
Saturday, January 26
Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar
Venue: nib Stadium, Perth
Kick off: 7pm local time, 9pm Brisbane time
Referee: Alan Milliner
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1HD and Sky Sports Highlights
ABC Radio Coverage -720 Perth and WA Regional Stations, Grandstand Digital
Perth Glory squad: 1. Danny Vukovic (gk), 2. Jack Clisby, 3. Bas van den Brink, 5. Steve Pantelidis, 6. Nick Ward, 7. Jacob Burns (c), 8. Dean Heffernan, 9. Shane Smeltz, 11. Adrian Zahra, 12. Ryo Nagai, 13. Travis Dodd, 14. Steven McGarry, 15. Brandon O-Neill, 17. Chris Harold, 21. Scott Jamison, 22. Ndumba Makeche, 23. Michael Thwaite, 30. Lewis Italiano (gk) *four to be omitted*
Ins: 2. Jack Clisby, 11. Adrian Zahra, Brandon O-Neill, 22. Ndumba Makeche (all promoted), 23. Michael Thwaite (returns from injury).
Outs:10. Liam Miller, 19. Josh Risdon (both suspended – 1 game)
Unavailable: Nil
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Michael Theo (gk) (c), 4. Matt Jurman, 5. Ivan Franjic, 8. Massimo Murdocca, 11. Ben Halloran, 12. Julius Doe, 13. Jade North, 15. James Donachie, 17. Mitch Nichols, 18. Luke Brattan, 19. Jack Hingert, 20. Matt Acton (gk), 21. James Meyer, 22. Thomas Broich, 25. George Lambadaridis, 26. Corey Brown *one to be omitted*
Ins: 13. Jade North (promoted), 19. Jack Hingert (returns from injury)
Outs: 3. Shane Stefanutto (suspended – 1 week), 7. Besart Berisha (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: 2. Matt Smith (hip injury – 2 weeks), 10. Henrique (hip injury – 1 week), 16. Do Dong-Hyun (knee – 1 week)
