The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers are confident they can beat the reigning premiers for the second time in six weeks.
The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers are confident they can beat the reigning premiers for the second time in six weeks.
Coach Tony Popovic said the Wanderers took a lot of confidence from their 1-0 away win in round four on October 27 and expected to beat Brisbane Roar again this Sunday afternoon at Parramatta Stadium.
“It was a great result as after our first three games we had not scored and had not won a game and the players put in a very good performance on that day,” Popovic said after training today.
“Several players can take confidence from that and we take confidence that eight of our nine performances so far were good.
“We go into the game with a positive frame of mind we are playing at home and we are confident that we can get the result required.”
Popovic said the Wanderers loved playing in front of a big home crowd at Parramatta Stadium. He said the team was relishing playing its next three matches in Sydney after several draining trips.
“(The trip to Wellington last Sunday) has been tough and the boys are a bit down physically and mentally but that is part of the A-League and part of the challenge to adapt to the long trips,” Popovic said
“We now have a series of games in Sydney that we are looking forward to.”
In a special family promotion this Sunday the crowd will be allowed onto the Parramatta pitch for a “Wander and Kick” after the game.
Popovic said it was good to have livewire attacking midfielder Youssouf Hersi back from suspension against Brisbane.
“(Hersi) has been out for a couple of games and it was disappointing from our point of view about the way he was out but I am sure he will learn from that and he is back and available for this week,” Popovic said.
“He has taken a bit of time physically to adapt and has not played a lot of football previously and is still building his fitness and hopefully the break has not set him back too much and it will be good to have him available and especially another player in the attacking third that can create some opportunities for us.”
Popovic said the goals would come if the team continued to build on its solid form and create chances.
“Over the first nine games, if you break it down the performances have been good and we have not been outplayed by anyone,” he said. “The challenge now is for the next nine-game block. We want to get more consistency in our results to match those performances. That is a challenge we are looking forward to.
“We have performed well in every game. Wellington was not our best performance and we were unlucky not to come away with something from the match. It is the only game that I have been disappointed with overall.”
Next match V Brisbane Roar FC, Sunday December 9, 5pm, Parramatta Stadium.
