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Reds taking nothing for granted vs Glory

3 minute read

Adelaide coach Carl Veart will take nothing for granted when the finals-bound Reds host last-placed Perth in Sunday's A-League Men's clash.

United head coach CARL VEART.
United head coach CARL VEART. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

On paper Sunday's A-League Men's match between Adelaide United and Perth Glory appears a total mismatch, as the rested Reds take on visitors seemingly destined for the first wooden spoon in their club's history.

Battling a mammoth injury toll and without a win in 14 matches, last-placed Glory head to South Australia as massive underdogs.

Adelaide, meanwhile, are out to secure the three points that will all but secure a finals berth in what will be their first game since a 3-2 win over Sydney FC on April 12.

But Reds coach Carl Veart is wary of a youthful Glory line-up that has nothing to lose and all to gain.

"They've had a difficult season and the last few weeks the results haven't been great for them," Veart said.

"But they've got some good young players there that have a little bit of confidence.

"If things fall their way, they could be a very difficult side to play against."

Sunday's match is the first of three home games for the fourth-placed Reds to conclude their regular season fixture.

Veart believes the value of an 11-day break between games heading into the final weeks of the season cannot be overstated.

"We're into week 40 since we started pre-season, without a break in that time, so it's come at a good time to freshen up the players and get them ready for these last three home games," he said.

"Finals in the A-League is always somewhere between 35 and 38 points and if we pick up three points tomorrow that puts us to 37.

"It's just a matter of getting the points tomorrow and then we move on for our next two home games."

The Reds will have Jacob Tratt (hamstring) back while Michael Jakobsen (groin) and Kusini Yengi (hip/quad) are still a week away from returning to the field.

The Glory meanwhile have Nick Fitzgerald back from a hamstring strain but coach Ruben Zadkovich continues to omit Osama Malik, Dark Stanojevic and Jonathan Aspropotamitis for various reasons while English striker Daniel Sturridge is expected to be at least another week away from his playing return.

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