Preview: Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory

#EraseRacism Round continues with a clash between Brisbane Roar & Perth Glory in Round 21 of the Hyundai A-League at Suncorp Stadium 8pm AEDT kick-off.

#EraseRacism Round continues tonight when Brisbane Roar host Perth Glory in Round 21 of the Hyundai A-League at Suncorp Stadium 8pm AEDT kick-off.

Head-to-head:

Played: 27 – Roar 16, Glory 5, Drawn 6

Previous encounter:

Glory 0-0 Roar, January 17, 2014

Form:

Past five matches: Roar: LLDWW Glory: LLLDL

The Game:

Mike Mulvey called Brisbane's first successive defeats of the season 'a blip' after losing 1-0 at Melbourne Heart on Sunday. Now with just a four-point buffer over second-placed Western Sydney, it will be more than a mere hiccup if the Roar fail to take maximum points at home to struggling Perth Glory, who have not won in six games to see their finals hopes plummet. With their woeful record away from home in mind, surely Kenny Lowe's side have no chance of springing a surprise at Suncorp Stadium?

The big issue:

Roar – The league leaders lacked zip at AAMI Park last week, and, according to Mulvey, tiredness wasn't to blame. So hopefully the coaching staff have spent a week in training giving their charges a refresher on how to move the ball quickly and sharply in the final third, something they had done so convincingly throughout much of the season.

Glory  – For Perth the diagnosis is more serious. Not only can the Western Australia side not score enough goals, they have been unable to stop them at the other end. Marquee defender William Gallas was the prime culprit at home to the Wanderers last time out, missing a routine clearance in comic fashion to allow Tomi Juric to make the game safe. Kenny Lowe must find a way for his players to tighten up at the back and also start hitting the back of the net. Even if he does so, it will surely come too late to secure a place in the finals.

The game breaker:

Luke Brattan - the holding player has been a constant in the Roar midfield this season while his more experienced colleagues Matt McKay and Liam Miller have sat out games through injury or suspension. He was below his usual consistent best against the Heart last Sunday, and needs to rediscover his previous high level of performance to keep the Glory as quiet as possible. The defence may be porous and the forward line misfiring, but Royston Griffiths, Jacob Burns and Steven McGarry are all capable of disrupting Brisbane's preferred passing game, and their physicality will need to be met like for like by their Roar counterparts.