Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Rhyan Grant says Sydney FC haven’t forgotten Brisbane Roar’s antics as they face each other for the first time since a pre-season game between the teams descended into chaos and was abandoned by officials.
As a quirk of the A-League Men draw, Saturday’s round-18 meeting at Allianz Stadium is the first time the Sky Blues and the Roar will meet in the league this season.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a simmering tension between the sides as they both battle to lock in a spot in the top six.
The ill-feeling stems from a pre-season game that was played in Southport on the Gold Coast that was a friendly in name only.
The match, which was scheduled to go beyond 90 minutes to give fringe players more gametime, was cut short by Football Australia (FA) referee Casey Reibolt because of the frequent skirmishes.
Sydney striker Patrick Wood and Roar defender Dimitri Valkanis were at the heart of one altercation while an incident between centreback Alex Popovic and Brisbane goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis erupted into another spotfire.
“Everyone’s seen the way they play this season and we played them in a friendly that sort of ended the way you’ve seen a lot of their games end this season,” Sydney skipper Grant told AAP.
“There’s definitely a bit of feeling there. They have a way they want to play and that’s quite fiery and aggressive and credit to them they were doing well and it was working at the start of the season.
“We know on Saturday they’ll be right up for it in the same way we are.
“We don’t have short memories, we remember what the pre-season (game) was like.
“We know it’s going to be a good fight and one where we’d really like to match it and get stuck into them.”
Under Michael Valkanis, the Roar have developed a reputation as one of the most combative sides in the competition.
Valkanis has made no apology for his team’s style and will return to the dugout on Saturday after serving a one-match suspension for a post-match send-off following the Roar’s loss to the Central Coast Mariners a fortnight ago.
Valkanis has frequently questioned the consistency of officiating in ALM and met with FA referees boss Jon Moss last week for clear-the-air talks.
His side sit eighth, four points behind third-placed Sydney heading into this weekend’s fixture which could have a huge bearing on both sides’ finals hopes.
Sydney are in a rut.
Ufuk Talay’s men have lost significant ground in the race for the premiership after winning just one of their last six games.
“We get a win and we stay in touching distance (with the top two) and as much as we don’t want to look at the ladder, we know where we’re at,” Grant said.
“If we keep winning games the rest takes care of itself.
“It would be silly not to say that we’re not aware of how tight it is, especially at the top. It’s another big game on the weekend where three points is vital.”
