Saturday, October 24, 2015, 7.30pm, Allianz Stadium, watch on Fox Sports
Ladder position
Sydney FC: Third
Western Sydney Wanderers: Ninth
Season record
Sydney FC: 1-0-1
Western Sydney Wanderers: 0-1-1
IT’S an early season Sydney derby between two cross town rivals who have experienced vastly different starts to the newly commenced A-League season.
Sydney FC ($2.10 with WilliamHill.com.au) is favoured to knock over the Western Sydney Wanderers ($3.40 with WilliamHill.com.au) (Draw is $3.40), after kicking off with a 1-1 draw against Melbourne City, before claiming all three points at Newcastle thanks to a 1-0 win over the Jets on the weekend.
In a dull contest, Sydney did what it had to do against a spirited Jets line up, which controversially had a goal to Jason Hoffman in the 36th minute denied by the match referee after he was incorrectly ruled off side.
With the match appearing to be headed for a draw, Alex Brosque seized on a sweeping cross from Alex Gersbach, turning it in with his head for the only goal of the match and giving the Sky Blues all three points.
The match was marred by an ugly incident involving Shane Smeltz.
In an attempt to swoop on the ball, Smeltz booted on rushing Jets goal keeper Mark Birighitti, knocking out teeth and leaving him with a mangled and bloodied face that required 30 stitches.
Smeltz was cleared of any wrong doing, ruling the incident an accident, but he face criticism from pundits in its wake.
With the Wanderers looming, Sydney needs to sort out its attack force. The departure of reigning A-League golden boot winner Marc Janko appears to have hurt more than coach Graham Arnold would care to admit, with attackers Brosque, Chris Naumoff and Smeltz finding it difficult to create opportunities in the early going.
They need to find more bite, or find someone that has it. Perhaps that someone is new man Filip Holosko, who was on target in week one, but missed against the Jets due to a hamstring strain.
Arnold has to decide whether he has recovered enough to take the pitch against the Wanderers.
The Sky Blues are set to be boosted by the return from injury of Mark Bridge, and marquee man Dario Vidosic could make his full debut, after coming on as a substitute in the first two games of the season.
Arnold hopes his charges will lift for the derby, considering its significance.
“It will be night time, the field will be nice and quick and there will be 44,000 there welcoming the Wanderers into our big house,” Arnold said.
“It’s our mansion and they will come.
“We’ll have plenty of Sky Blue supporters and it will be fantastic occasion.
“I can’t wait.
“It’s a sporting event on the Australian sporting calendar that everyone looks forward to.
“They performed well (against Adelaide) and it should be a cracking game.”
The Wanderers, under Tony Popovic, were smoked on the opening round of the season, going down 3-1 to the Brisbane Roar on their home deck, but showed some fight on the road over the weekend to come away with a 1-1 draw against Adelaide United.
Spanish midfielder Andreu went from villain to hero, knocking a Tarik Elrich cut back into his own net in the 21st minute, before redeeming himself by swooping on a poor clearance from Elrich and netting in the 83rd minute to win a share of the points for the Wanderers.
Wanderers goal keeper Andrew Redmayne said his side created plenty of chances, but just didn’t capitalise.
“I thought we dominated large patches in the first half. We can definitely take that into the next game,” Redmayne said.
“Lots of positives, if we’re creating that many chances they are eventually going to fall.”
Like Sydney FC, the Wanderers will want more out of their strikers and the likes of Federico Piovaccari, while the fiery Brendon Santalab could be in line after he recovered from a thigh injury.
The Wanderers have almost a clean bill of health ahead of the match, with only Shannon Cole ruled out.
With a sell out crowd of 44,000 expected to pack Allianz Stadium, Redmayne has predicted the derby will be bigger and better than the huge rivalry between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City.
Redmayne spent three years with City (and the former Melbourne Heart), before signing on with Western Sydney this season.
He knows a thing or two about the passion of the Melbourne Derby, but says the massive support the Wanderers enjoy helps this rivalry exceed its southern counterpart.
“I played in a few Melbourne derbies but heard some great things about the Sydney derby and I’m expecting big things and an amazing atmosphere,” Redmayne said.
“I think with the passion and the energy that the Wanderers fans bring, I think it’s going to be better than the Melbourne derby, that’s what I’m expecting.
”Derbies is what football is all about.
“That passion, that rivalry, almost the bragging rights I guess.
“There’s a lot more pressure a lot more atmosphere, and sold out crowds, everyone’s on their feet, it’s just fantastic.
“I just can’t wait to get out there on Saturday and play in front of half the stadium full of Wanderers fans.”
Predictions
Match result: Sydney FC wins ($2.20 with CrownBet.com.au)
Correct score: Sydney FC 2-0 ($11 with CrownBet.com.au)
Total match goals: Under 2.5 goals ($1.91 with sportsbet.com.au)
We love the derby, but it feels like there’s a gulf in class here. While the Sky Blues are yet to put it together, they hold a significant talent advantage over the Wanderers, who should still be buoyed by high support on the short trip to Allianz. The Wanderers are a workmanlike team and their effort to steal a point on the road in Adelaide should not be underestimated. It gives them hope, but Sydney FC has the wood on them in the recent going. The Sky Blues have won three of the last four, including a thrilling 4-3 result last time out, with the other match being a draw. The last time the Wanderers tasted victory in the derby was way back in March 2014. We don’t think it’s going to change here. The classy front three of Brosque, Smeltz and a hopefully fit Holosko should have the class to finish the midfield work form the likes of Milos Dimitrijevic and Milos Ninkovic. Redmayne will have his work cut out for him trying to stop that attacking force, which will be keen to find the goals after a pair of sub par performances. We think the 2-0 result is about right, despite the fact the Wanderers have scored in each of their matches, the Sky Blues possess a solid defence that has only allowed one goal in its opening two games.
First goal scorer tips
Sydney FC
Filip Holosko ($6.50 with sportsbet.com.au)
Slovakian Holosko gave a glimpse of what fans can expect from the striker in the season opener, firing in the side’s only goal against Melbourne City, but was a conspicuous absentee from the weekend’s clash with Newcastle. The Slovak, signed to replace Jaric in the off season, is expected to be fit by the time this match roles around and, if he does step out, he instantly becomes the most dangerous man on the park. The former Besiktas striker has 65 caps for his country, indicating he is no slouch, and he will have to come up big if Sydney FC are to go any where this season. A keep safe in the first goal scorer market.
Milos Dimitrijevic ($15 with sportsbet.com.au)
If Holosko is the keep safe, Dimitrijevic is the flyer. The gun Serbian has a back for scoring big goals and there would be no bigger regular season goal than one in the derby. Especially if it was the opener. It would bring Sydney FC fans – and the punters who backed him at the juicy odds – to their feet. The perfect passer was the Sky Blues player of the year last season, an indicator of the impact he has had on this club since crossing from Serbian powerhouse Red Star Belgrade. He’s not the safest option i the first goal scorer market, but his double figure odds make him enticing.
Western Sydney Wanderers
Mitch Nichols ($12 with sportsbet.com.au)
The talented 26 year old should be entering his prime and, judging from his early performance with a goal for the Wanderers already this year, perhaps the disciplinary issues of yesteryear are behind hime. Nichols was sacked by the Perth Glory last season, his contract terminated over ‘minor disciplinary issues, but he appears to have a new lease on life with the Wanderers supporter base behind him. The talent is undeniable. The application is some times not there, but if he is switched on, he is capable of stunning Sydney and firing in the first goal for the Wanderers in this match.
Federico Piovaccari ($7 with sportsbet.com.au)
Like Holosko, Piovaccari is the gun striker the Wanderers signed to replace a departing star in Tomi Juric and they will hope can fire in plenty of goals this season and help lead them to the finals. At 31, the marquee man has the experience and ability to settle in well in Western Sydney, but do they have the cattle to feed him? A veteran of the Serie A, Piovaccari has the pedigree to take the A-league by storm, having struck 23 times in 39 games for Italian club Sampdoria. If you’re looking at a Wanderers player to score first, it starts and ends with him.
