Back to back wins for the first time this season is the goal for the Western Sydney Wanderers NPL side, as they play host to Manly United on Saturday night.
The Wanderers gained a huge amount of confidence from their massive Sydney Derby victory last round, where they combined defensive solidity at the back and a clinical streak going forward to take home a 1-0 win thanks to a Zac Sapsford strike.
A first clean sheet of the season was also a huge boost for a defence that was without key centre-back Alex Bonetig.
The side will be eager to prove that result wasn’t a flash in the pan, and that they have found consistency in their performances as the season gets close to the halfway mark, and Manly United will pose a strong test for the Wanderers.
Manly only sit three points above the Wanderers and have only won one of their last five matches, currently being on a three match losing streak.
Their last defeat was particularly hard to take, as they conceded three second half goals at home in a 3-0 defeat to Wollongong Wolves who ultimately moved above them in the table.
It has been a tough fall from grace for a side that reached last year’s grand final under now Western Sydney first team assistant coach Adam Griffiths.
His replacement – former Wanderers NPL coach Patrick Zwaanswijk – has struggled to capture that form, though they have had strong victories against Sydney FC and St George City.
Their key players are undoubtedly attacker Matt Sim, as well as Bruno Mendes, who has amazed the NPL competition with some amazing goals over the past few seasons.
A win for the Wanderers would see them move level on points with their opponents, with the potential to leapfrog them on the table depending on the margin of victory.
