Glory on the horizon but Tony Popovic is not fussed

Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic says he isn’t looking too far ahead as the club’s dream of a first A-League trophy looms.

Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic celebrates the win over the Mariners on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic says he is not fussed, nor is he looking too far ahead as the club’s dream of a first A-League trophy beckons.

A win against the Newcastle Jets on home soil on Sunday will deliver the West Australians the Premiers Plate as the competition’s minor premiers. Second-placed Sydney FC will be six points behind with two games left, even if they beat Western Sydney the night before.

Glory’s impressive +13 goal differential would be enough to ensure the plate heads their way after a remarkable season in which they have lead the competition since round four and have lost just twice.

Of course, a Glory win and a Sydney loss would mean there is no need for goal difference to come into play. Popovic’s side would be able to celebrate a remarkable achievement in front of their own fans.

But Popovic is not one for permutations nor sentiment because he deals with what is in front of him at the time.

“All year we have gone game by game and never looked too far ahead … we have never expected anything to come easy,” Popovic said.

“Sydney FC and (third-placed) Melbourne Victory are two very, very good teams and clubs, and they expect to win and have been winning or challenging for a long time.

“We started this journey and said we want to become a team that challenges regularly, but that takes years to do that, to be a big club.

“At the moment, we are a big team and we are more than matching it with these big sides and our consistency is proving that week after week. No one is giving us anything.”

Having played and coached at Sydney FC, Popovic understands what it is like to be involved in a big club mentality. It is why he says “Sydney are not going to go away” in the chase for the Premiers Plate.

“No, they are not going to go away, they are not saying, ‘Here you are, you can have it,’ and that’s the quality they have and what you ­expect,” he says.

“But, I have a group of players who keep backing up week after week and performing and that’s full credit to them.

“They’ll go home and recover and focus on Newcastle and whatever happens in the other game happens.

“Things are in our hands and we just have to keep going week by week and getting results.

“If that takes us to winning a trophy, so be it. Whenever or wherever that happens, I don’t care.”

Meanwhile, Glory attacker Chris Ikonomidis will have scans today on the shoulder he dislocated during the 3-0 win over Central Coast Mariners on Sunday.

Popovic did not seem to think there will be any serious lasting issues, though the Socceroo is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks.

“He seems in very good spirits,’’ the coach said. “He had a similar injury a few years back but at the moment he has very good movement in the shoulder and it does not feel serious.

“We won’t know for a few days but we are hoping he won’t be out long.”