Rusty Western Sydney Wanderers escape with 1-1 draw against Perth Glory
THE Wanderers were grateful in the end to hang on for a point in Perth, but the need for more quality is already apparent.
Western Sydney Wanderers
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THE battle of the Wests ended in stalemate, but the Wanderers were more grateful in the end to hang on for a point.
Registering anything on the league table from the opening game is a bonus, especially for a new coach, but as Markus Babbel digests Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Perth, the need for more quality is already apparent.
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Flashes of skill from Alex Baumjohann offered hints of what he might produce given decent supply lines this season, but around him there is too much base metal and not nearly enough of the precious variety.
The Wanderers have players who are neat and tidy, but mere competence was never the benchmark for this club since it was established.
It’s also hard to discern from that opening salvo what Babbel’s modus operandi will be: the caution of the visit to Melbourne City in quarter-final of the FFA Cup, or the attacking mindset of the defeat to Sydney FC in the semi-finals.
Up front Oriol Riera ran a lone furrow in Perth, rarely convincingly in cahoots with the wingers either side of him. Riera also produced one of the three outstandingly bad misses of the season’s opening round, in company with Adam Taggart and Chris Ikonomidis, and those defining moments can haunt a coach.
Even Western Sydney’s own Twitter account was incredulous, tweeting: “Wow, just wow!” in response to the shot blazed over from close range.
Perth’s goal was a car crash for the visiting defence, from a questionable pass by Vedran Janjetovic to the sluggish reaction from Ruon Tongyik as he was pressed by Neil Kilkenny.
Tongyik in particular could be forgiven for rustiness, having played two competitive games since February. The defender’s pre-season was hampered by a groin injury, and Tongyik never looked entirely dominant against Glory’s attack.
In fact, Western Sydney’s lack of serious aerial prowess at the back could cause problems, and it was no surprise that Perth sought time and again to attack via crosses from the flank. In the end the visitors just about held firm, but other coaches will take note.
To give Babbel’s side credit, they were better structured after the break, and Roley Bonevacia’s determination to keep hold of a long ball and shoot home the equaliser spoke loudly of a player with something to prove after being starkly criticised by his coach in an interview.
Certainly there was more grit than generally the side showed last year under Josep Gombau, and Babbel can take heart from his side’s refusal to buckle in the face of Perth’s pressure.
But to create pressure of their own, and set challenges for any opposition, the Wanderers need more confidence and certainty on the ball, as well as character. A midfield pairing of Keanu Baccus and Rashid Mahazi will rarely strike fear into their opponents’ hearts.
The good news is the next game to come: no fixture galvanises a side like a derby, and Western Sydney already have one defeat to their cross-town rivals to avenge from this season.