How the Wanderers plan to stifle Sydney's potent attack

Western Sydney Wanderers believe their clean sheet against Sydney FC in round 15 is proof they have worked out the solution to stopping the Sky Blues's high flying attack.

Cornthwaite

Sydney FC's Bobo, left, battles with Western Sydney Wanderers' defender Robert Cornthwaite Source: AAP

Wanderers's central defender Jonathan Aspropotamitis said non-stop concentration, commitment and aggression was the key to slowing down Sydney's league best offence.

A bit of old-school defending, really, giving your man no room and not letting up for 90 minutes.

Alex Brosque (nine goals in 18 games), Bobo (eight in 19), Milos Ninkovic (eight in 19) and Filip Holosko (six in 18) have between them scored 31 of Sydney's 41 goals this season.
When Sydney beat the Wanderers 4-0 in round one at ANZ Stadium, Holosko, Bobo and Brosque all got among the goals, with Brandon O'Neill getting the other.

In round 15 at Allianz Stadium, on January 14, in what finished as a 0-0 draw, Bobo, Ninkovic, Brosque and Holosko all started, but the Wanderers kept Sydney to just eight shots and five on target.

"That was a real highlight for us - our first clean sheet of the season," Aspropotamitis said. "We took a lot of confidence out of stopping their front four, who have been so potent this year in scoring goals against so many teams.

"We know their front four are all quality players and if you have a lapse in concentration at any point they can create something out of nothing, so being really tight and aggressive with them is the key and we did it well that night.

"To hold them to nil and also at the other end to almost snatch the game, because we had enough chances ourselves, was a big positive for us.

"Our results kicked on from there, which made it really disappointing when we had a setback against the Mariners last Sunday, but I'm sure the boys will get up for what will be a great game on Saturday."

Coach Tony Popovic appears to have recently settled on Aspropotamitis and Robert Cornthwaite in the central defence and Scott Neville and Jack Clisby as the fullbacks. That was the back four last time against Sydney.
"You always want to play against the best sides and in the best atmospheres and the best stadiums, so whether we're on a winning run or a losing run, any time is a good time to play a derby," Aspropotamitis said.

"It just so happens that we need to win and we really want to knock Sydney off their perch. They're doing really well and it would be great to knock them down and get those bragging rights back."


Share
Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, Dakar Rally, World Athletics / ISU Championships (and more) via SBS On Demand – your free live streaming and catch-up service. Read more about Sport
Have a story or comment? Contact Us

Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, Dakar Rally, World Athletics / ISU Championships (and more) via SBS On Demand – your free live streaming and catch-up service.
Watch nowOn Demand
Follow SBS Sport
3 min read
Published 15 February 2017 12:39pm
Updated 16 February 2017 7:26pm
By Greg Prichard

Share this with family and friends