06-05-wsw-per-prev

Both looking for valuable points, the Western Sydney Wanderers return to W-League action against the Perth Glory in Round 5.

With cross city rivals Sydney FC in Japan, the Wanderers had the week off with the Derby rescheduled to Wednesday 15 January 2014 at  WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah with kick off set down for 7.30pm.

Meanwhile the Perth Glory got back in the winners circle with a hard earned 1-0 win over a stubborn Adelaide United outfit.

Despite dominating the match, it took until a 89th minute Rosie Sutton header for the Perth Glory to break the deadlock and secure a crucial three points.

Collette McCallum continued her strong early season form with a Player of the Match performance in the midfield.  Along with her goal, Sutton and her strike partner Christina Julien were very lively, creating and getting on the end of several goal scoring opportunities.

Defensively some of the errors that they were punished for in their previous two matches still appeared once or twice in the match. However promisingly, the defensive line held firm with Chantel Jones and Co earning their first clean sheet of the season.

Even with a week to hopefully allow injured players to return, the Wanderers will once again be struggling to field a team this weekend with further injuries to Rachel Soutar (neck), Linda O'Neill (osteitis pubis) and Servet Uzunlar (hip) sustained while Dimi Poulos is absent.  In better news goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold returns earlier than anticipated while Matildas Teigen Allen, Heather Garriock and Alanna Kennedy all look set to play minutes.

Garriock and Kennedy in particular will be crucial as the Wanderers look to split the midfield possession against a strong Glory midfield and an in form McCallum.  Defensively Caitlin Cooper has ably held the fort but she the return of Allen will be a welcome boost to the back line particularly with Sutton and Julien in a goal scoring mood.

Up front the Wanderers need goals; lots of them.  Currently the lowest scoring team in the league, that duty continues to fall to Catherine Cannuli, Michelle Carney and Jenna Kingsley and this weekend they will need to rise to it.

The last time these two sides met it was a finals bound Perth Glory who had complete control on their home patch finishing with a 3 -0 win through goals from Kate Gill, Marianna Tabain and Collette McCallum.

Head to Head: Played 2, Western Sydney 1, Perth 1

Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory

Saturday 14 December 2013

Marconi Stadium, Sydney

Local kick-off: 2pm

Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 1. Mackenzie Arnold (gk), 2. Caitlin Cooper, 3. Shawna Gordon, 4. Camille Levin, 5. Emily Van Egmond (C), 7. Heather Garriock, 9. Jenna Kingsley, 11. Michelle Carney, 12. Jessica Seaman, 13. Catherine Cannuli, 14. Alanna Kennedy, 15. Teigen Allen, 16. Linda O’Neill, 18. Helen Petinos, 20. Georgia Rowntree, 22. Dimi Poulos (gk) (one to omitted)

Ins: Mackenzie Arnold, Heather Garriock, Teigen Allen (all return from injury)

Outs: Renee Tomkins (omitted), Rachael Soutar (neck – season)

Unavailable: Jordan Baker (hip – three weeks), Tori Huster (knee – four weeks), Servet Uzunlar (awaiting international clearance), Kyah Simon (knee - season)

Perth Glory squad: 1. Chantel JONES (gk), 2. Sarah CARROLL, 3. Cecilie SANDVEJ, 4. Bronwyn STUDMAN, 5. Shannon MAY, 6. Sasha ANDREWS, 8. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 9. Rosie SUTTON, 13. Elisa D’OVIDIO, 14. Collette McCALLUM, 15. Jess DILLON, 16. Thia EASTMAN, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 19. Shawn BILLAM, 20. Kathleen WAYCOTT (gk), 21. Christina JULIEN (one to be omitted)

Ins: Jess Dillon (promoted)

Unavailable: Aivi Luik (hamstring – indefinite), Kat Jukic (groin – indefinite), Kate Gill (illness)