Dylan says Adelaide United is only interested in on-field fireworks in Sydney

SYDNEY Harbour Bridge’s New Year’s Eve spectacular was never going to tempt the Reds squad. Not when they were planning fireworks of their own against the Wanderers.

SOCCER - Adelaide United Training at Elizabeth. Dylan McGowan. Photo Sarah Reed.

SYDNEY Harbour Bridge’s New Year’s Eve spectacular was never going to tempt the Reds squad. Not when they were planning fireworks of their own against the Wanderers.

Dylan McGowan said on Thursday that while the rockets were going off at the Bridge, Adelaide United’s players would be keeping their focus on a vital clash at Pirtek Stadium on New Year’s Day.

They certainly would not be travelling 32km to Sydney central, even if Sydney Harbour’s massive celebrations are regarded as being equal to the super New Year’s Eve shows of New York, London and Paris, with about a million people watching fireworks from the foreshore.

“Our focus is solely on the game and not New Year’s because that’s what it is when you’re a professional footballer,’’ McGowan said.

“Unfortunately you miss a fair few holidays but as long as we’re nice and tucked up in bed by midnight hopefully we can get the result.

“We’ll be in our hotel room, mine and (roommate) Jimmy Jeggo’s hotel won’t be going off that’s for sure.

“Obviously it’s New Year’s Eve, it’s a party time but not for us unfortunately.

“If we win we can have a bit of celebration (afterwards).”

With McGowan adamant the focus was on upsetting Wanderers, Adelaide boss Guillermo Amor revealed Eli Babalj (foot) had finally been added to the travelling squad.

Babalj’s last match, ironically, was against the Wanderers in round two, when he lasted 45 minutes before succumbing to injury at Coopers Stadium.

But a lot has happened to both sides since that 1-1 draw on October 16 — when the Wanderers’ Andreu scored both goals, turning the first into his own net in the first half before jagging the equaliser seven minutes from time.

Since earning their first point of the current campaign in Adelaide with that draw, the Wanderers have become the form team of the A-League, holding pole position for the past four rounds and earning 25 points.

Adelaide had a horrendous start to its campaign but has joined the Western Sydney in delivering December sparkle. Both sides have earned 10 points — three wins and a draw. The Wanderers have scored eight times and conceded three goals, while the Reds have had three clean sheets, scored six goals and conceded just once.

Amor said Wanderers were a complete outfit, able to play possession-based soccer and mix it with enough aggression to throw opponents off their game.

“They are very strong mentally,’’ he said.

“They have very good players; the group is very good.”

Amor was expected to stick by the players which had brought much needed respect back to Adelaide over the past four matches.

But the Barcelona legend was still contemplating whether he should start Bruce Djite, who hasn’t scored an A-League goal since February 21, or Pablo Sanchez, who has scored seven times since.

FRIDAY

Western Sydney v Adelaide United at Pirtek Stadium

Kick off: 7.10pm

Referee: Ben Williams

TV: Fox Sports, SBS

UBET: Wanderers $1.88, Draw $3.40, Adelaide $4.10

Wanderers

Formation: 4-3-3

GK: Redmayne

DEF: Neville, Alberto, Topor-Stanley, Jamieson

MID: Pepper, Nichols, Dimas

FWD: Bridge, Piovaccari, Castelen

Adelaide

Formation: 4-3-3

GK: Galekovic

DEF: Marrone, McGowan, Elsey, Elrich

MID: Isaias, Carrusca, Jeggo

FWD: Cirio, Djite, Goodwin

SATURDAY

Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadium

Kick off: 4.45pm

UBET: Roar $1.50, Draw $4.10, Glory $6

Melbourne City v Sydney FC at AAMI Park

Kick off: 7pm

UBET: City $2.10, Draw $3.50, Sydney $3.10

SUNDAY

Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory at Hunter Stadium

Kick off: 4.30pm

UBET: Jets $4.50, Draw $3.80, Victory $1.70

Originally published as Dylan says Adelaide United is only interested in on-field fireworks in Sydney