A-League: Wanderers have goalkeeper Daniel Lopar to thank for not conceding against Roar
The Wanderers are undefeated and top of the A-League but they have plenty of work to do to make a real impact on the competition.
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The Wanderers are back on top of the A-League ladder, but only after labouring to a 0-0 draw with Brisbane in their least convincing performance of the season.
Old Liverpool teammates Markus Babbel and Robbie Fowler at least could share the honours at the end, but there was little to satisfy either coach in a scrappy contest dominated by 33 annoying fouls.
At least the point takes Western Sydney back past Sydney FC to the summit, but the entertainment was in painfully short supply at Bankwest Stadium.
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Schwegler is a huge loss
When Pirmin Schwegler limped off after just 17 minutes, it was a hammer blow – to the game, and to his team in the near future. With the Swiss international suffering an apparent calf injury, Wanderers boss Babbel will wait nervously for a full diagnosis over the next 48 hours, for his midfielder is key to the Wanderers game plan.
What thrust the home side had in the opening moments came via Schwegler. If he’s out for any period, it will hurt Western Sydney.
Wanderers’ goal still charmed
The same goalmouth that saw Western Sydney escape several times in the derby last weekend again seemed draped in a forcefield, with some remarkable escapes.
Three times in a few seconds Brisbane thought they’d scored, when Macaulay Gillesphey’s header was blocked on the line by Alex Meier, Roy O’Donovan’s follow-up was saved by Daniel Lopar and then O’Donovan again missed a completely free header seconds after.
Quite how Western Sydney haven’t conceded in their past two games is one of the mysteries of football, but the record books at least show two consecutive clean sheets – something the Wanderers hadn’t achieved since April 2017.
Alex Meier needs service
Even a man who won the Golden Boot in Germany isn’t likely to score when his only touches of the ball come 30m from goal with his back to it.
Aside from one header from a setpiece, Meier again was starved of service and hence starved of chances. The arrival of Nicolai Muller offers the prospect of more creativity, and it was he who ran clear in the 91st minute and picked out Meier in the box with a smart pullback, only to see his compatriot shoot tamely at goalkeeper Maxime Crocombe.
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS 0 BRISBANE ROAR 0 at Bankwest Stadium. Crowd: 14,216. Referee: Daniel Elder.