Melbourne City FC has begun the season in fine form, taking home the points in all three of its fixtures so far.
Most recently the City boys took home Melbourne Derby bragging rights in a 2-0 win over cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory.
Up next is Wellington, with City set to host the Phoenix in what will be its second home fixture of the season. Here’s what you should be keeping an eye out for on Sunday evening!
DOES PK CHANGE A WINNING FORMULA?
Reinforcements could be on the way this week, but the biggest question heading into the fixture is whether Head Coach Patrick Kisnorbo elects to stick with the same starting XI.
The team remained unchanged from Round 1 to 2, but a suspension to Taras Gomulka followed by a last minute Scott Jamieson withdrawal saw a couple of changes for the Derby.
Gomulka’s set to return after completing his suspension, while Jamieson along with central defender Nuno Reis have had strong weeks on the track as they look to prove their fitness for Sunday’s clash against Wellington.
A bi-product of the changes last week saw Mathew Leckie move into midfield with Marco Tilio coming in onto the wing, but Gomulka’s potential inclusion certainly gives Kisnorbo something to think about this week.
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Thomas Lam has been the mainstay in the heart of defence early on this season and was partnered with Curtis Good last week. An impressive performance from the duo saw City keep a second consecutive clean sheet.
The teams first two fixtures saw Jamieson do a commendable job stepping into an unfamiliar central defensive role but with City’s centre-back stocks now more healthy, you’d expect him to move back to the more familiar left-back role. That being said, he’ll face some tough competition from 19-year-old Jordan Bos who’s coming off a strong Derby performance.
This all leaves Kisnorbo with plenty of big decisions to make ahead of Sunday – but it’s of course a great problem for any manager to have!
ANOTHER BIG GAME FOR GLOVER?
As mentioned, City comes into this fixture off the back of two consecutive clean sheets – having conceded just one in its first three fixtures.
A big reason for this has of course been the performances in goal from Tom Glover, who’s had an impressive start to the season.
His two clean sheets equals the best of any keeper in the league so far, while with 10 saves he currently sits equal forth, although all those ahead of him have faced more shots.
Glover will certainly be hoping his defence continue their strong form but up against a Wellington outfit thats fired off the third most shots of any team this season, he’ll need to be at the top of his game either way.
A TIMELY SCORING STREAK SET TO CONTINUE?
We’ve seen in recent years that Jamie Maclaren scoring goals for fun in a Melbourne City shirt isn’t exactly a huge surprise, but his current run of form comes at a great time in both a team and personal sense.
Maclaren currently has four goals in three games to begin the season and has been a big reason for City’s strong start.
On the personal aspect, we’re now not far from the Socceroos 26 man World Cup squad being named, and you’d have to think there’s not much more Maclaren can do to be on the plane to Qatar.
As the winner of the last three league Golden Boots and the Socceroos top-scorer in qualifying, paired with starting the season the way he has, Maclaren’s certainly put together an almost insurmountable case to be on the plane to Qatar.
