It’s Monday Night Football thanks to the fixture update, and a cracker awaits with two top-six sides meeting in the WA capital. Can the Green and Black maintain its scorching form of late against the Glory boys?
Fans may be deprived of seeing this game live – due to the restrictions in place to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, resulting in a behind closed doors policy across the league for the remainder of the season – but online viewing figures are likely to boom for this meeting of two sides with genuine top-six ambitions.
How the players will adapt to an empty stadium with the only sound their own voices and the coaches yelling instructions remains to be seen.
That said, purely from a football point of view, this will be well worth staying up for on a Monday night.
It’s been a mad March for United with a scorching 6-2 home win over the Mariners on the first day of the month, followed a week later by one of the season’s most eye-catching displays, a rollicking 5-1 win in Adelaide at Coopers Stadium.
United have in-form players across the board. Attacking midfielder Max Burgess is floating in and out of pockets and causing mayhem with four goals in the last two games.
Meanwhile, Perth boy Josh Risdon is set to return to where it all began for him.
The 27-year-old wingback’s outing at Coopers a timely reminder of the Socceroo’s regal form after three assists got him into the EA SPORTS’ FIFA 20 TOTW (just a week after Burgess was also named following his 19-minute hat-trick against the Mariners).
And Besart Berisha continues to be Besart Berisha. As razor-sharp as ever: 15 goals for the season has him well in contention for the Golden Boot (Sydney FC’s Adam Le Fondre leads on 16) after four in the United striker’s last two.
Mark Rudan’s men are aiming for a club-record third consecutive three points after last week’s bye. Perth’s form hasn’t been their best but who could ever write off a side with such quality?
Glory’s last three games have seen them draw in Brisbane and not get the points against the Jets or City.
Both sides have proved clinical in front of goal this season with a shot conversion rate of 18% for United and 19.1% for Glory. So expect chances in the box to be taken.
If great football is the antidote for these uncertain times, then this Monday night A-League clash could just do the trick.
Last time these two sides met?
It was a 1-1 draw in what was Western United’s first home game last October.
Milestone
Perth keeper Liam Reddy is set for his 300th A-League game
Ways to watch Perth Glory v Western United
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