Soccer: Glory bracing for Victory bite back

Tony Popovic expects Melbourne Victory to break out of their funk and challenge for honours

Tony Popovic’s Perth Glory have been hampered by injuries and late arrivals

Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic expects Melbourne Victory to break out of their funk and be challenging for honours at the pointy end of the A-League season.

The pressure is rising on new Victory coach Marco Kurz after guiding his side to just one win and two draws from seven games. It’s left the Victory in 10th spot ahead of Friday night’s pivotal clash with Glory at AAMI Park.

Perth have also endured a slow start, with Popovic’s men posting just one win and three draws from their first six games to slide to seventh. But the blowtorch is far more intense on the Victory right now, and Popovic expects the perennial title contenders to bounce back.

“Melbourne Victory is probably with Sydney FC as the biggest club,” Popovic said. “They’re a massive club that at the moment is underachieving.

“I certainly know they’re a club that I still expect to be at the pointy end of the season when it gets to the end.”

Popovic guided Glory to a Premiers Plate in his first season in charge of the Perth-based club. But things haven’t gone to plan this season, with injuries and late arrivals hampering Glory’s cause.

AAP