Lowe stays grounded as Glory’s purple patch continues

Perth Glory boss Kenny Lowe has played down suggestions that his players might feel pressure from leading the A-League following their 2-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix on Friday night.

It was Glory’s sixth success from seven games, their best start to a Hyundai A-League campaign, but Lowe won’t be paying any attention to the ladder until much later on in the season.

“I don’t think there’s any pressure [from being in first place], we just go about our business,” he said afterwards.

“We’re not interested in league tables, especially after [seven] games. I might be interested after 27.”

Teenage sensation Daniel De Silva gave the majority of the 9233 spectators something to celebrate early on with a goal inside 90 seconds following some great work on the right by Youssouf Hersi.

Irish international Andy Keogh notched his fifth league goal on the hour mark before Roy Krishna pulled one back for the visitors from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining.

Following Keogh’s goal, Ruben Zadkovich replaced Rostyn Griffiths but just 17 seconds later he was sent off by referee Lucien Laverdure for a challenge on Vince Lia.

Replays showed that Zadkovich went over the top of the ball and connected with Lia, and while it initially looked like Laverdure was only going to produce a yellow card, he pulled out the red after consulting his assistant.

“I’m 45/50 metres away so I’ll say it was definitely not a red, as any coach would,” said Lowe of the incident with a laugh.

“I don’t know, I haven’t a clue. Ruben doesn’t go in with a feather duster, when he goes in he goes in.

“I think he took some of the ball, maybe he took some of the guy, I don’t know. I’ll have to have a look.”

When asked if there would any possibility of the red card being overturned by FFA, Lowe joked that there was more chance of six inches of snow next week.

Lowe also said that he was pleased with how his side controlled the game, even with the numerical disadvantage, and was “not one little bit” nervous in a frantic ending made longer by five minutes of injury time.

“It was never in doubt with the character they’ve got really, it just emphasised the type of people that they are,” he said.

De Silva’s goal was his first in the A-League having notched one in the FFA Cup quarter final win over Melbourne Victory last month, and Lowe is satisfied with the AS Roma-bound youngster’s efforts as a first team regular.

“He’s done alright, runs out of petrol a little bit but he’s only 12 so that’s probably why,” he said.

Just like last weekend’s contest with the Western Sydney Wanderers, Glory created enough chances to put the game out of sight as Nebojsa Marinkovic forced a stunning one handed save out of Glen Moss and struck an upright from long range.

Josh Risdon was again superb at right back, and it was from his right wing cross that Keogh ended a run of four games without a goal.

For their part, the Phoenix created little aside from the penalty as Roly Bonevacia, Nathan Burns and Krishna all failed to find the target with efforts on goal.

Coach Ernie Merrick admitted that his side were second best on the night, but he was still disappointed not to take something from the game having lost late on against Adelaide United in the previous round.

“It took a while to find our grove and the passing was poor but that’s what happens when you concede a goal within two minutes and you’re on the back foot,” said the Scot.

Michael McGlinchey’s absence due to the birth of his daughter was a massive blow to the Kiwis in the build up to the game and they have now won just once in their last eight road trips.

The Phoenix must now pick themselves up for the visit of Melbourne City next weekend, while Glory head to Brisbane to take on the Roar.



Perth Glory starting XI: 1. Daniel VUKOVIC, 5. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 6. Dino DJULBIC, 7. Youssouf HERSI, 9. Andrew KEOGH, 10. Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 11. Richard GARCIA, 19. Joshua RISDON, 20. Daniel DE SILVA, 21. Scott JAMIESON, 23. Rostyn GRIFFITHS.

Perth Glory substitutes: 8. Ruben ZADKOVICH, 13. Diogo FERREIRA, 14. Chris HAROLD, 17. Mitchell NICHOLS, 18. Jack DUNCAN.


Wellington Phoenix starting XI: 1. Glen MOSS, 2. Emmanuel MUSCAT, 4. Rolieny BONEVACIA, 9. Nathan BURNS, 11. Jeremy BROCKIE, 13. Albert RIERA, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Benjamin SIGMUND, 19. Thomas DOYLE, 21. Roy KRISHNA, 22. Andrew DURANTE.

Wellington Phoenix substitutes: 5. Michael BOXALL, 7. Kenny CUNNINGHAM, 8. Alex RODRIGUEZ, 12. Tyler BOYD, 20. Lewis ITALIANO.