Sydney FC and Wanderers both struggling with poor recent records ahead of derby clash

BOTH Graham Arnold and Tony Popovic use statistics to reinforce their position, but these are the numbers neither coach will want to look at too closely.

BOTH Graham Arnold and Tony Popovic like to use statistics to reinforce their position, but these are the numbers at which neither coach will want to look too closely.

It’s bad enough that both sides in Saturday’s derby come into the game on the back of a humbling home loss, but they also both have records they desperately want to break.

The headlines — apart from those about flares — have concentrated on Western Sydney’s abysmal record in recent derbies, and it’s true. With no victory in the past six games against Sydney FC, the Wanderers have to make a case quickly that the Sky Blues do not have a significant edge on them.

Nor is it just that record of five losses and a draw to be concerned about — in those six games, Western Sydney have conceded 14 goals, compared with an average across all their A-League games since inception of just 1.2 conceded each time.

In fact the Wanderers’ win ratio against Sydney FC is just 27.2 per cent — their lowest against any side still playing in the A-League.

The fact that five of those games without a derby win have come since Graham Arnold took over Sydney FC hasn’t gone unnoticed on the Sky Blue side of the city.

Nor has Western Sydney’s record at Allianz Stadium, since winning the first two derbies held at Moore Park in 2012 and 13. Overall, four losses in six games gives them a loss record of 66.6 per cent — equalled only by their miserable record at Coopers Stadium in Adelaide.

But if those figures bring forward a smile on to Graham Arnold’s face, his own issues — and damning statistics — might wipe it off again quickly.

The table doesn’t lie and Sydney FC are struggling this season. Should they lose against Western Sydney, and Perth’s storming run continue at home to Brisbane straight afterwards, the Sky Blues could fall out of the top six for the first time since Graham Arnold took over as coach before the start of last season.

Marc Janko of Sydney FC scores a goal during the Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC A League game at Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta. pic Mark Evans

A few weeks ago the six teams to go forward to the finals looked wrapped up, but Sydney suddenly look as vulnerable as anyone.

Partly that is down to their scoring record of just 25 goals in 19 games. That’s equal with teams nine and 10 on the ladder, Wellington and the Mariners, and only Newcastle in eighth have scored fewer.

Hence the fact Sydney have lost their last two home games, and would — with defeat on Saturday — equal the club’s worst run of losses at Allianz Stadium. With only four wins at home all season, Arnold’s team seem to have lapsed back into the sclerosis that has afflicted them on their own turf for years.

Both coaches will claim that — in the usual derby cliche — form and records and numbers all go out of the window in this particular rivalry. But by the end of Saturday night, one side or the other will be particularly satisfied if they have broken the sort of run that nobody wants.

Originally published as Sydney FC and Wanderers both struggling with poor recent records ahead of derby clash