No panic at Perth Glory despite winless run

Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe is adamant his team can break out of its worrying form slump in time to challenge for the A-League championship.

Perth Glory

Perth Glory players celebrate scoring against Wellington Phoenix. (AAP) Source: AAP

Glory's 16-round stay at the top of the table was ended on Saturday night when it fell to a 2-1 home loss to Wellington Phoenix.

Perth was seven points clear on top of the table in January, but an eight-match winless run has left it in a battle just to secure a top-four berth.

But the coach is confident his players will rebound.

"We've got enough people in the change room who can grind through it and come out the other side," Lowe said.

"There's nothing wrong with a bit of pain. It's how you react to that.

"We're two points off the top. It's not a mountain to climb, is it?

"We've already exceeded our expectations. We just need to regroup, refocus, and kick on again.

"Now we're here, it would be remiss of us not to try to be involved in the final running to pinch (the championship). It's all fun."

Glory has the chance to regain top-dog status when it takes on the bottom three teams over the next three weeks - Central Coast Mariners (away), Western Sydney Wanderers (home), and Newcastle Jets (away)

Phoenix was written off by most experts at the start of the season, but it now finds itself on top of the table with just six rounds remaining.

Coach Ernie Merrick joked his players were suffering from "nose bleeds" after snatching top spot.

He also couldn't help but smile when asked about the outside perceptions of his club.

"I find it interesting. Whoever does the odds for the betting - we're not backed very often," Merrick said.

"Very rarely have we ever been the favourites to win a game and now we've won 12 games - more than anyone else.

"We're the second highest goal-scorers in the league, and we've got the best defensive record. so we're doing something right.

"But the odds are always against us. It doesn't bother me, I just find it funny."

A brace from Roy Krishna was enough to give Phoenix all three points against Perth.

Star striker Nathan Burns (hip) and midfielder Alex Rodriguez (hamstring) are set to return for next Sunday's clash with Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium, further boosting the club's firepower.

But Merrick knows the pressure will intensify over the coming weeks as the jostle for top spot gets even more heated.

"It's pretty tough getting to the top, it's even tougher staying there," he said.

"Teams will really be stepping up to play against us. We've gone from being hunters, to the hunted."


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3 min read
Published 15 March 2015 12:53pm

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