Plenty of interest here tonight, with the Glory keen to avenge their
grand final defeat at this very ground this year and the Roar turning
out for the first time under the mentorship of Mike Mulvey. So sit back,
grab a tin of baked beans and a cup of long-life milk and enjoy the
game.
Perth Glory (8th)
Perth are in a slump at the moment and based on the last 5 games, they have the worst record in the league amassing just 2 points.
Perth are just not finding the back of the net enough, they have just 18 goals in 17 games, but the stats are slightly better at home.
If ever there was a time for Perth’s leading goal scorer Shane Smeltz to find some form its now. It is essential that they pick up points at home, because so far this season they have only managed 4 points away from Nib stadium.
The immediate problem for Perth is the defence has been ravaged by injury, van den Brink, Pantelidis, and Thwaite, are unlikely to recover for today’s match, and just to rub salt in the wounds midfielder Liam Miller is suspended. His position is most likely to be covered by rookie 18-year-old Brandon O'Neill.
Brisbane Roar (9th)
If Perth’s woes make bad reading, spare a thought for the Roar, they have lost 3 on the trot, and their away record this season is almost as bad as Perth’s.
The headache for head coach Mike Mulvey is finding replacements for the two suspended key players Besart Berisha and Shane Steffanuto.
Thomas Broich may be pushed up front to replace Breisha but he is not a recognised striker.
Mulvey had already identified the need to source another goal scorer but to date nothing has happened in the January transfer window.
At least there is not a problem in the backs, with either Matt Smith or Jade North getting a start after being rested last week.
With Brisbane Roar sitting 1 point off bottom, they need to stop the rot and start picking up points.
