A-League Men: Perth Glory thrash Adelaide United to take a step towards avoiding second wooden spoon in a row

Perth Glory have taken a step towards avoiding consecutive A-League Men’s wooden spoons after they produced their best performance of the season to thrash Adelaide United 4-1 at HBF Park. It comes as owner Ross Pelligra gave coach David Zdrilic his pre-game backing at the club’s chairman’s function, telling supporters he backed the embattled manager’s vision. While the support for Zdrilic may not have got the legions of aggrieved fans onside just yet, Perth’s performance will have provided a little respite. Adam Taggart’s eighth goal of the season got the ball rolling for Perth and then Trent Ostler doubled their lead before Ben Folami cut the deficit in an action-packed opening 25 minutes. United threatened to pull the rug from under the Glory in the second half, but in his last match before an expected overseas move, Jaylan Pearman netted two composed finishes to make the game safe. Perth’s press was more positive and pinned Adelaide back, they were clinical in front of goal and somewhat sturdy up the other end, while Glory also managed moments throughout the game with more confidence. Importantly, the win allowed Perth to jump back into 12th and three points ahead of a hapless Brisbane Roar, although the Queensland outfit have two games in hand and a far superior goal difference. While it looked like Adelaide might run over the top of Perth in transition early, as the gaps in the Glory midfield were exposed for what felt like the umpteenth time this season, it was the hosts who landed the first blow. Nikola Mileusnic, shackled for most of the season by hamstring injuries, looked to be approaching his regular top speeds, and it was his 11th minute cut-back on a breakway which was met by Taggart. With the pass slightly behind Taggart, the captain half-back-heeled, half-flicked the ball goalward and shot-stopped Max Vartuli was deceived. The goal gave Glory confidence and it was 2-0 in the 19th minute when Ostler’s poke towards goal caught a body and wrong-footed Vartuli before nestling in the net. Mileusnic then showed off his jet-heels as he went one-on-one with Vartuli soon after, but the ‘keeper stood tall this time. And his stop proved to be vital in the ensuing minutes when Josh Risdon’s attempted slide tackle unfortunately diverted the ball into Folami’s path and with the centre-backs too far apart, he had an easy finish. Former Glory stopper Jordan Elsey thought he had Adelaide back on level terms just before the half-hour mark, but the linesman’s flag intervened and with the reprieve, Perth saw out the rest of the half comfortably. However, Adelaide responded well after the break and it was the visitors who began to turn the screws on the Glory in an attempt to rescue the game. Stefan Mauk skied an attempt not long after the restart, then Yaya Dukuly stabbed wide and then only Luke Amos’ timely equaliser prevented an Adelaide equaliser. It was fitting that in the final home game of his stint at his club, Pearman provided the circuit-breaker at The Shed end as he killed Nicholas Pennington’s long diagonal ball dead, threw Elsey off-balance before curling home. Seven minutes later he put the icing on the cake with Perth counter-attacking at will, the teenager galloping onto Adam Bugarija’s through ball and waiting for the goalkeeper to commit before sliding the ball home.