Melbourne Victory interim head coach Steve Kean receives his first test as boss of the Navy Blue as Western Sydney Wanderers travel to Marvel Stadium to face the bottom-placed side on Friday 23 April.
Grant Brebner was removed from his role as Victory head coach following his side’s 7-0 loss to Melbourne City in Matchweek 17. It was the second heavy Melbourne Derby defeat suffered by Victory this season after City won 6-0 in the first meeting between the sides in the 2020/21 campaign.
Kean steps into the role with Jean Paul de Marigny operating as interim assistant coach for the remainder of the 2020/21 A-League season, and the first task of the new managerial team is to beat the Wanderers on Friday night.
Carl Robinson’s side are on an unconvincing run of form of their own. Without a win in five, the sixth-placed Wanderers have thrown open the gates for the teams below them to make a charge toward the top six.
The Red & Black could approach the contest at Marvel Stadium outside of the Finals Series standings, if Western United beat Wellington Phoenix in the opening fixture of Matchweek 18 on Thursday, April 22.
Victory and Wanderers last met in Matchweek 7. The Wanderers emerged with all three points on that occasion, beating Brebner’s outfit 2-0. Victory striker Rudy Gestede’s costly challenge on Bernie Ibini helped decide the contest, handing the Wanderers a second-half penalty which spurred Robinson’s team to securing the win.
Match details
Melbourne Victory v Western Sydney Wanderers
Friday, April 23 2021
Venue: Marvel Stadum
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEST
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports