The A-League sides praying for a Christmas miracle
Two A-League clubs will be hoping, well praying, for a Christmas miracle this weekend.
It’s been a tumultuous week for the Western Sydney Wanderers with chief executive John Tsatimas and coach Markus Babel forced to front the media to hose down speculation about player unrest.
There’s no doubting that the pressure is on the Wanderers, who have lost five games in a row to find themselves outside the top six for the first time this season.
But a desperate side can be
MARK BOSNICH FOX SPORTS
a dangerous side and that’s what the Wanderers’ faithful will be hoping for tonight.
A loss for the Wanderers would equal the worst losing streak in the club’s history – and that’s a record no player or member of coaching staff wants to have beside their name.
Western United won’t be an easy team to overcome – the competition’s newest side are playing with a belief and resolve that is making them a formidable outfit.
Alessandro Diamanti has been an attacking powerhouse, and Besart Berisha is in fine touch in front of goals.
The first time these two sides met, Western United got the three points, but the Wanderers are a different team at home and will buoyed by a huge at Bank West Stadium crowd.
We’ll never know which Wanderers players or members of their coaching staff are on Santa’s naughty or nice list this Christmas, but if Babbel and his men can get the job done tonight you can guarantee it will be a happy Christmas for Wanderers fans.
Melbourne Victory are another side hoping to avoid a lump of coal in their stocking this Christmas.
Victory fans are more than frustrated with what their side has dished up so far this season and will be hoping their fortunes change this weekend in the Melbourne derby.
The reason local derbies are so exciting is because the form guide goes out the window – and for the Victory that’s a good thing.
The Victory may have won the past five Melbourne derbies, but Melbourne City will start red-hot favourites after putting in the best 90-minute performance of any side this season in their 4-0 win over the Jets last weekend.
Jamie Maclaren has been outstanding for Melbourne City in scoring 10 goals in just six games – and he wants more.
For the Victory to win this game, they’re going to need to be strong defensively, desperate and the first into every contest – and they’re going to need to play out the full 90 minutes.
If the Wanderers and the Victory can both pull of a Christmas miracle this weekend it will not only provide their fans with the perfect present, it could also set them up for a prosperous new year.