Western Sydney are confident of defying history books as they seek only a second ever win in Adelaide

THEY are the numbers that could chill the heart of the Wanderers squad travelling to Adelaide on Friday in search of a win to kick-start their season.

The Western Sydney Wanderers are chasing a first win in Adelaide.

THEY are the numbers that could chill the heart of the Wanderers squad travelling to Adelaide on Friday in search of a win to kick-start their season.

Western Sydney have a lot of recent history to defy in the grand final re-match, as they seek an instant response to the 4-0 reverse they were hit by on derby day last weekend.

Western Sydney haven’t won in their past five games in Adelaide, at either Coopers Stadium or Adelaide Oval, and only once in the past seven games against United — home or away — have they emerged victorious.

Nor is wider form an encouraging portent. Sunday’s draw at Newcastle means Adelaide have now lost only once in their last 22 A-League matches, 15 of which were won – a run that of course carried them to the title last season, at the Wanderers’ expense.

LISTEN UP:Tom Smithies and Dave Hall pick over the bones of the Sydney derby and Herald Sun football writers Matt Windley and David Davutovic join the pod to discuss the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifiers and Melbourne’s own looming derby day.

Not only that, but in shipping four goals last Saturday, Western Sydney conceded three or more for the third game in a row taking in the semi-final and final last season.

If the data is bruising for Tony Popovic’s side, they can take comfort from the huge turnover in both squads.

The Western Sydney Wanderers are chasing a first win in Adelaide.

Wanderers striker Brendon Santalab insists that is more important than any historical trends, and that his side’s barren record in the City of Churches will not be a factor come Friday night.

“The short turnaround from Saturday’s game is a good thing for us, and it’s brought the trip to Adelaide into focus quickly,” he said.

“We have another challenge in trying to win there, and it’s an exciting game to play in considering it’s the grand final rematch and against the champions.

“But there’s been so many changes in personnel that I don’t think it matters what our previous results have been against Adelaide.

“That sort of record gets put aside when new faces come in, just like our record in the derby really wasn’t an issue last weekend.

“Maybe Adelaide have made Coopers into something of a fortress, because no side goes there expecting a comfortable victory – they’re just really hard to beat there.

“But as always expectations are extremely high at our club, and that will dictate how we approach the game this week.”

Santalab insisted there had not been a brutal inquest into the way Western Sydney succumbed in the derby, with Tony Popovic keener to identify the moments of weakness that translated into Sydney FC goals.

“Popa was disappointed with the scoreline, of course, but we sort of got picked off, and he’s focused on us not getting caught on the counter,” Santalab said.

“Main thing for us is improving how we played in the second half, and sustaining the form we showed in patches in the first half.

“If we had taken some of the chances we had before halftime, you might have seen a very different outcome.”

Originally published as Western Sydney are confident of defying history books as they seek only a second ever win in Adelaide