Played
October 21, 2012 5:00 PM EST
nib Stadium — Perth
Referee:‬ M. Gillett‎
Attendance:‬ 7548‎
 
 
86′ Billy Mehmet
 

A-League preview: Perth Glory v Melbourne Heart

Heart will face a tough task attempting to keep their unbeaten start to the season intact, with the Glory - minus Smeltz - and keen to bounce back after their loss to the Mariners

A-League - Perth Glory - Melbourne Heart
Getty
GOAL.com Indonesia   By WILLIAM VALLELY

  PROBABLE LINEUP

PERTH GLORY



Vukovic
Risdon, Thwaite, Pantelidis, Heffernan
Zahra, Miller, Burns, Nagai
McGarry, Mehmet

MELBOURNE HEART


Bolton
Marrone, Gerhardt, Vrankovic, Behich
Fred, Garcia, Thompson
Williams, Macallister, Dugandzic

Melbourne Heart travel to Perth following a disappointing home result against a weakened Wellington Phoenix side last Sunday.

Heart will face a sterner test from last season’s grand finalists on Sunday, and will have to do it without the experience of suspended defender Simon Colosimo.

Colosimo was sent off for handling the ball in Heart's draw against the Pheonix, though his absence could have been amplified further if A-League goal-machine Shane Smeltz was not missing for Perth.

Smeltz returned from international duty with New Zealand nursing a hamstring strain, and he will miss at least two matches.

Heart will breathe a sigh of relief, as the prolific hitman seems to enjoy taking on the visitors.

Given Perth's strong home form - undefeated in the last three - Heart coach John Aloisi will hope David Williams and Dylan Macallister can make the most of the limited opportunities they are expected to get, or he may be forced to consider pulling the boots back on himself.

Ian Ferguson has included former Heart midfielder Adrian Zahra in the squad for Sunday's game.

Zahra has not featured in Glory’s first two games, and perhaps the chance to impress his ex-employers may encourage Ferguson to give the winger a spot among the substitutes.

As well as Smeltz, Glory are without defender Bas van den Brink, who is set to be replaced in the XI by Steve Pantelidis.

Utility Evan Berger is still six weeks away from full fitness.

For Heart, Jonatan Germano is still searching for the required fitness to force his way back into Aloisi's plans.

With an array of attacking talents on display, goals are expected in this exciting clash between two teams looking to consolidate on their promising starts to the season.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
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Last Five Matches
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
1Danny VukovicGoalkeeper
5Steve PantelidisMidfielder
35Dean HeffernanDefender
19Joshua RisdonDefender
14Scott JamiesonDefender
-Michael ThwaiteDefender
7Jacob BurnsMidfielder
10Liam MillerMidfielder
14Steven McGarryMidfielder
7Billy MehmetStriker
13Travis DoddMidfielder
30Lewis ItalianoGoalkeeper
22Nick WardMidfielder
-Adrian ZahraMidfielder
-Chris HaroldStriker
1BoltonGoalkeeper
-Michael MarroneDefender
6Patrick Nyema GerhardtDefender
-Aziz BehichDefender
18David VrankovicDefender
5FredMidfielder
8Matt ThompsonDefender
11Richard GarciaMidfielder
9Dylan MacallisterStriker
15David WilliamsStriker
23Mate DugandzicMidfielder
20Andrew RedmayneGoalkeeper
-Steven GrayDefender
9Jason HoffmanStriker
10Josip TadicStriker
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Daniel McBreen Daniel McBreen
Striker
Central Coast Mariners
19 4
Jeremy Brockie Jeremy Brockie
Striker
Toronto FC
16 2
Marco Rojas Marco Rojas
Midfielder
Melbourne Victory
15 0
Alessandro Del Piero Alessandro Del Piero
Striker
Sydney FC
14 4
Besart Berisha Besart Berisha
Striker
Brisbane
14 4