A-League: Sydney FC refuse to bow to physical City

Melbourne City brought the fire to the FFA Cup final but could struggle to dominate Sydney FC in Sky Blue territory.

Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold says City will face a much tougher Sydney tomorrow night.

soccer: Melbourne City may have fired up the FFA Cup final but need to think twice if they expect to dominate Sydney FC physically in Sky Blues territory, warns Graham Arnold.

The FFA Cup champions outmuscled the visitors at AAMI Park last Wednesday, with an early Luke Brattan challenge on Sydney’s Michael Zullo setting the tone and angering the Sh=ky Blues’ bench. Zullo was still sporting a nasty bruise at training a week after the encounter.

Sydney FC coach Arnold welcomed the prospect of a similar level of intensity when the sides meet in tomorrow night’s top-of-the-table clash. But he warned the Victorians wouldn’t have it all their own way in the battle for territory in the hostile surroundings of Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

“If that’s what it’s got to be, it’s got to be,” Arnold said yesterday. “It was feisty at times, but that’s football.

“When you go on the pitch, it’s about dominating and owning every blade of grass on the field.”

League leaders Sydney remain undefeated a third of the way through the season and racked up a 2-0 victory over battlers Newcastle last weekend.

A win tomorrow would give them a nine-point buffer atop the A-League ladder after City’s recent draw with Brisbane.

Arnold said it was “way too early” to call the match a possible grand final preview but the clash would bring out something special in his team, and a more determined showing than their FFA Cup final performance.

“I expect our performance will be the best of the season,” he said. “Our final pass wasn’t at the level it should have been (in the cup final).

“We played a different style that game. It was a one-off final. We went for it more and we left the game a little bit more open than what we normally would.”

The Sky Blues face a few selection issues, with marquee signings Bobo and Filip Holosko out of the starting side against the Jets after struggling to maintain form.

First-time starter Milos Dimitrijevic was arguably their strongest performer despite having played just 12 minutes this season, while skipper Alex Brosque, David Carney and youngster George Blackwood led the attack.

“I’ve got some good headaches and some decisions to make,” ­Arnold said.

AAP