After overcoming their goal-scoring demons last weekend, Brisbane Roar coach Ange Postecoglou has identified securing their first away win of the season as the next item on his agenda, citing Sunday’s clash with Perth Glory as the ideal time to tick it off his list.
With two draws and one loss in their three away outings this season, Brisbane travel across the country with a favourable record against the Glory to fall back on.
Since the inception of the Hyundai A-League, the Roar have collected 16 points from a possible 24 in Western Australia, including five victories, and even their overall record against Dave Mitchell-s men makes impressive reading with nine wins, three draws and just three defeats.
Despite their remarkable form in Perth, Brisbane are winless in their past eight away games and Postecoglou says his team needs to back up after the big win over Melbourne Heart with a solid performance on Sunday.
“Every week you have your challenges, and we haven-t won away from home this season,” he said.
“We-ve had a few performances away from home – we were good against the Gold Coast and we were certainly competitive against Newcastle.
“A win will always boost the confidence, but the confidence has been good all year to tell you the truth.
“If we want to capitalise on our good home form, we have to pick up some points away, but having said that Perth is a massive challenge.”
After a five-game undefeated run at the beginning of the season, the Roar-s opponents this week are coming off three consecutive defeats where they failed to find the back of the net on any occasion.
With a long 30-game season to contend with this year, Postecoglou said he would be surprised if any team in the competition didn-t have a dip in form at some stage, saying Perth could bounce back at any point which was something his players had to be aware of.
“I think every team will go through a bit of a rough patch this season, and it just depends when you go through it and how quickly you come out of it,” he said.
“I don-t think any team will go through the season flying, every team is going to have their own little down period.
“I-m sure they-ll be desperate, but there-s no doubt they are a quality side.
“At home, they-re getting good crowds this year and it-s a good atmosphere at their grounds so it-s going to be a real big challenge for us.”
According to Postecoglou, the Roar players performed well at training this week leaving him with a selection headache, but said he was unlikely to make any drastic changes to the side that thrashed the Heart last weekend, given their dominant performance.
“Obviously the team did really well last week, so we-re not likely to make too many changes,” he said.
“We-ve got some competition between the blokes which is what we wanted.
“Kosta (Barbarouses) did well, Mitch (Nichols) came on and did fantastic last week, Rocky Visconte came on and did a good job, and Matt Mundy has filled in when we-ve needed him.
“Once we get over this game on the weekend, we-ve got a series of games where we-re going to have to rely on the whole squad to get us through.
“It-s important that all the boys are in good form and are feeling good about themselves.”
With a busy schedule following next week-s international break, Postecoglou said the Roar coaching staff were monitoring the players to ensure they would still be fit and fresh after their long flight west.
“I think the signs are at the moment that both in and out of the starting eleven we-ve got boys that are feeling pretty good about their football,” he said.
“But we-ve got to be mindful that there are quite a few players carrying a fair load at the moment.
“Players like Thomas (Broich), Matty McKay, Matt Smith and Erik Paartalu – I don-t think they-ve missed a minute of football yet, so we-ve just got to be smart about the way we manage them.”
Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar
Sunday, 3 October 2010
nib Stadium, Perth
Local kick-off: 5.00pm (7.00pm AEST)
Referee: Ben Williams
Assistant referees: Matthew Cheeseman and Josh Mannella
Fourth official: Joe Fusari
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1, FS1 HD & Sky Sports 1. Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is 882 6PR (Perth). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au
Perth Glory squad: 1. Tando VELAPHI, 2. Josh MITCHELL, 4. Andy TODD, 5. Jamie HARNWELL, 7. Jacob BURNS (C), 9.Robbie FOWLER, 10. Michael BAIRD, 11. Branko JELIC, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 14. Steven McGARRY, 15. Howard FONDYKE, 16. Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17. Todd HOWARTH, 19. Naum SEKULOVSKI, 20. Aleks VRTESKI, 21. Mile STERJOVSKI, 22. Anthony SKORICH, 23. Andrija JUKIC, 25. Ryan PEARSON
*four to be omitted*
In: 12.Scott NEVILLE (returns from national team duty), 11. Branko JELIC, 15. Howard FONDYKE, 23. Andrija JUKIC, 25. Ryan PEARSON (all promoted)
Out: Jamie COYNE (suspended – 1 game)
Unavailable: 3. Jamie COYNE (suspended – 1 game), 6. Chris COYNE (on loan -7 weeks), 8. Victor SIKORA (hip – 1 week), 13. Tommy AMPHLETT (Hamstring – 3 weeks)
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Matt SMITH, 3. Luke DEVERE, 4. Shane STEFANUTTO, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 11. REINALDO, 12. Matt MUNDY, 14. Rocky VICSCONTE, 15. Matt McKAY (c), 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 21. James MEYER, 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Milan SUSAK, 20. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk)
*one to be omitted*
In: 20. Andrew REDMAYNE (returns from national team duty)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 9. Jean Carlos SOLORZANO (quad strain – 1 week), 10. HENRIQUE (broken arm – indefinite)
Head-to-Head: All matches (played 15): Perth Glory wins 3, Brisbane Roar wins 9 (3 draws)
