The Wanderers will be looking to continue their good recent away form in South Australia when they play Adelaide United in a Round 12 of the Hyundai A-League clash at Coopers Stadium.
The Red & Black have had a bit of joy in the Festival State having won twice and drawn twice in their past five games there.
Most recently, the Wanderers produced a quality performance to grab the competition points in a 3-1 win the last time they met in a Round 19 game at Coopers Stadium on 16 February this year.
Games between the two clubs are usually hard fought with very little separating the two sides. The statistics show the match up has produced just 59 goals in 22 games since they first met in 2012.
Of course, there have been exceptions to the rule, most notably back in the Wanderers debut 2012/2013 season.
Who can forget the 6-1 win over the Reds at Pirtek Stadium on December 21, 2012 as they sent the Wanderers faithful into delirium. It was a significant point in the club’s history.
It was the Wanderers third win in succession and it appeared to galvanize the players, the club and the fans.
From that point on you could see the confidence and belief rise as the fans started flocking to the home games realizing they were witnessing something special and had a great team in the making.
Despite the short history, the two clubs have formed a strong, competitive spirit.
The Reds have a slight edge in terms of the overall results having won eight and drawn eight of the 22 games.
There should be a little bit of spice in this encounter with former Adelaide players Dylan McGowan, Tarek Elrich, Bruce Kamau and Jordan O’Doherty returning to the city but wearing the Red & Black.
McGowan and Kamau were both in the Reds line-up that beat the Wanderers 3-1 in the 2015 A-League grand final while Elrich came on as a substitute.
The game will have a little more meaning for McGowan, Kamau, and O’Doherty. McGowan was born in Adelaide and still has family there while Kamau and O’Doherty grew up in the city after moving there at a very early age.
United have been one of the benchmark teams of the season so far.
Under new coach Gertjan Verbeek, the Reds captured their second FFA Cup trophy with a stunning 4-0 win in the final against Melbourne City in October and have carried the good form into the A-League.
Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers
Friday 27 December, 7:30pm
Coopers Stadium
