Adelaide United FC refuses to concede its season a write off and is determined to bring success back to its home fans against Perth Glory on Thursday night.
Adelaide United FC refuses to concede its Hyundai A-League season a write off and is determined to bring success back to its home fans when the Reds host Perth Glory at Hindmarsh Stadium tomorrow night (Thursday 1 March 2012).
The start of the AFC Champions League may be less than a week away (the reason behind the FFA moving the match against the Glory from its original time of Sunday afternoon) but Coach John Kosmina and the Reds are not turning their attention to their trip to Uzbekistan just yet.
Without a win at home since they beat the Wellington Phoenix back on December 30, the Reds will be putting all of their energies into toppling Perth, reversing the 3-0 loss to the Glory they suffered last time out, and gaining some favourable results in the last four games of the season.
“The A-League is not gone – we want to win games. There are four games left to win and we-ve got to try and win them,” Kosmina said.
“We had a good chat about that yesterday and it-s important that we do win games. We need to win a game at home, we need to win it for the supporters, we need to win it for the owners, we need to win it for the players and we need to win it for ourselves, both individually and as a group.”
With the Reds sitting eight points outside the top six, Kosmina could be excused to start trialling something new and different ahead of the AFC Champions League opener.
But he was quick to quash any of these suggestions, stating he would send out the best line up and structure that he thinks will beat Perth.
“No because we probably shape up a little bit differently,” Kosmina answered on whether he would use tomorrow night-s game to work on combinations for the match against Bunyodkor in Tashkent next Tuesday.
“We-ll be looking at it in terms of our height because we want some big defenders, but I-m thinking about the Perth game and trying to get a result in that.”
“You make your own luck and that means maybe we need a little bit more good intention and a little bit more hard work as well. If you go out and have a serious go from right down deep inside and not just a pretend go, you might get something out of it.”
The Reds welcome back defensive duo Daniel Mullen and Antony Golec after four games away with the Olyroos, Kosmina not hesitant in bringing them straight into the fray.
“It (Mullen and Golec-s return) has given us some numbers at the back and some height and some strength, and they-re both going to play tomorrow night,” Kosmina said.
Something that is sure to add more interest to the clash is the return of former Reds captain Travis Dodd, who is now with the Glory.
Dodd is yet to play in Adelaide since making the move west at the end of last season, and while he will be keen to put in a big performance against his former side, Kosmina is more worried about what the Reds bring to the table.
“Travis is with Perth now so he-s an opponent. We-ve got to be aware of the qualities he-s got – his pace, his experience and the fact that he might be trying to prove a point because he hasn-t played against us here yet,” Kosmina said.
“But that-s not what we-ve got to think about, we-ve got to think about proving our own point.”
Gates at Hindmarsh Stadium open at 6.00pm (ACDT) with kick-off at 7.30pm. Tickets are available through Ticketek.
Hyundai A-League 2011/12 Season – Week 22
Adelaide United FC v Perth Glory
Thursday 1 March 2012, Hindmarsh Stadium
Kick-Off: 7.30pm ACDT
Referee: Matt Gillett
Tickets: Available through Ticketek (call 132 849, online at www.ticketek.com.au)
TV: Live and exclusive on FOX Sports 1
Radio: ABC Grandstand Digital and online
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adelutd_fc (hash tag #HALaupg)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene Galekovic (gk) (c), 2.Osama Malik, 3.Nigel Boogaard, 5.Daniel Mullen, 6.Cassio, 7.Zenon Caravella, 8.Evgeniy Levchenko, 9.Sergio van Dijk, 10.Dario Vidosic, 11.Bruce Djite, 12.Antony Golec, 14.Cameron Watson, 15.Jacob Melling, 17.Iain Ramsay, 18.Fabian Barbiero, 20.Mark Birighitti (gk)
*one to be omitted
In: Daniel Mullen (returns from international duty), Antony Golec (returns from international duty), Mark Birighitti (gk) (returns from international duty)
Out: Francisco Usucar (hamstring), John Hall (returns to NYL)
Unavailable: Spase Dilevski (groin), Paul Izzo (gk) (knee)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 2.Josh MTCHELL, 3.Bas van den BRINK, 4.Billy MEHMET, 5.Steve PANTELIDIS, 7.Jacob BURNS (c) 8.Adam HUGHES, 13.Travis DODD, 14.Steven McGARRY, 15.Tommy AMPHLETT, 17.Todd HOWARTH, 19. Josh RISDON, 20. Neil YOUNG, 22.Adam TAGGART, 27.ANDREZINHO 35. Dean HEFFERNAN
*one to be omitted
In: Josh MTCHELL (returns from injury), Adam TAGGART (returns from Olyroos)
Out: Mile STERJOVSKI (medical in China)
Unavailable: Chris COYNE (Achilles), Shane SMELTZ (ankle), Liam MILLER (hamstring), Victor SIKORA (hip – long term injury list), Evan BERGER (hamstring)
Adelaide United vs. Perth Glory – Hyundai A-League HEAD TO HEAD Record
Played 20 – 10 wins, 3 draws, 7 losses
29-Jan-2012… L 0-3… 2011/12 Wk 17 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
9-Oct-2011… L 0-1… 2011/12 Wk 1 (nib Stadium)
22-Dec-2010… L 2-4… 2010/11 Midweek (nib Stadium)
10-Nov-2010… W 2-0… 2010/11 Midweek (Hindmarsh Stadium)
24-Sep-2010… W 2-0… 2010/11 Wk 8 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
19-Jan-2010… L 2-3… 2009/10 Rd 19 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
9-Oct-2009… L 0-1… 2009/10 Rd 10 (nib Stadium)
7-Aug-2009… W 1-0… 2009/10 Rd 1 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
26-Dec-2008… W 1-0… 2008/09 Rd 17 (nib Stadium)
26-Oct-2008… W 2-1… 2008/09 Rd 9 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
17-Aug-2008… W 1-0… 2008/09 Rd 1 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
13-Jan-2008… L 2-3… 2007/08 Rd 20 (nib Stadium)
23-Nov-2007… D 1-1… 2007/08 Rd14 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
7-Oct-2007… D 0-0… 2007/08 Rd7 (nib Stadium)
28-Dec-2006… D 0-0… 2006/07 Rd18 (nib Stadium)
5-Nov-2006… W 3-2… 2006/07 Rd11 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
16-Sep-2006… W 3-0… 2006/07 Rd4 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
12-Jan-2006… W 2-1… 2005/06 Rd18 (nib Stadium)
6-Nov-2005… L 2-4… 2005/06 Rd11 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
17-Sep-2005… W 2-1… 2005/06 Rd4 (nib Stadium)
At Hindmarsh Stadium
Played 11; Adelaide United 7, Perth Glory 3, Draws 1
Last time they met in the Hyundai A-League
29-Jan-2012 Week 17, Hyundai A-League 2011/12 Season at Hindmarsh Stadium
Adelaide United FC 0
Perth Glory 3 (Smeltz 15-, McGarry 20-, Miller 82-)
Adelaide United last three results
Wk 21. 24-2-12… L 0-1… vs. Newcastle Jets (Hunter Stadium)
Wk 20. 19-2-12… L 1-2… vs. Sydney FC (Hindmarsh Stadium)
Wk 19 .12-2-12… W 2-1… vs. Gold Coast United (Skilled Park)
