Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory: A-League Sunday preview

Western Sydney Wanderers have found their mojo at just the right time to try and make finals, going four games unbeaten ahead of a meeting with lowly Perth Glory at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.

Head coach Alen Stajcic has seen his side roar right into contention for a top-six finish, while the Glory have endured a dismal campaign which has seen them win just two of the 19 A-League games that they have played to date.

Wanderers took the win when the two sides met at nib Stadium in mid-January, with Zac Sapsford scoring what proved to be the winning goal on the hour mark.

Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory betting preview

Upturn in form boosts Wanderers

As January was about to tick over into February it looked as though Western Sydney's season was going nowhere, following a run of one win in five and three consecutive home defeats.

However, since then three victories and a draw have lifted them firmly into top-six contention ahead of a visit from the lowly Glory.

Their cause will not be helped by the absence of star midfielder Nicolas Milanovic, who has scored eight A-League goals this season, but who misses out after earning a fifth caution of the campaign in the 4-0 victory at Central Coast Mariners.

However, that crushing win over the Mariners saw Spanish ace Juan Mata come off the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury, while another replacement, Marcus Antonsson, ended his eight-game goal drought.

Head coach Stajcic also has a new defensive option at his disposal, with former Wellington Phoenix centre-half Josh Laws having returned to the A-League following a spell in Swiss football with Grasshoppers Zurich.

Laws looks set to be handed a start against the Glory, with Western Sydney having kept just three clean sheets so far this season, although two of those have come in their last four matches.

A Sapsford goal just before the hour mark earned Wanderers a hard-fought 2-1 victory in Perth back in the middle of January and that was the third time in a row meetings between these two sides have ended in that scoreline for the visiting team.

Season far from glorious for Perth

Glory head coach and former Australia forward David Zdrilic has endured a tough first season in the top job in WA, with Perth one from bottom on the A-League ladder and having won just twice in 19 games.

Despite that situation, Zdrilic believes his side are making progress and told reporters ahead of this game: "The guys can see what we're trying to build and we're having a really good go in all the games."

Glory are winless in their last six - although they have drawn three of those - with their most recent victory having come somewhat bizarrely at home to runaway league leaders Auckland FC, when Jaylan Pearman scored the only goal of the game.

Their only other win this season was another 1-0 success, this time at rock-bottom Brisbane Roar four days before Christmas.

Zdrilic will be hoping that central defender Tass Mourdoukoutas passes a fitness test, having been forced off at half-time of the goalless draw with Sydney FC last time out.

On-loan striker Patrick Wood is back in contention after having to sit out against his parent club and he may start alongside Adam Taggart, who, with six goals, is the only Glory player to have netted more than once in the A-League this season.

 Taggart's tally is equal to that of the whole of the rest of the Glory squad in the competition so far this term.

Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory odds

Western Sydney Wanderers - 1.53
Draw - 4.50
Perth Glory - 5.50

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.