Perth Glory's head coach, Stephen Peters, has issued a frank assessment of his team's struggles on the road, demanding immediate improvement as they prepare for a daunting trip to face the reigning A-League Women champions.
Weather Casts Doubt on Gosford Fixture
The Glory are scheduled to meet the Central Coast Mariners at Polytec Stadium in Gosford on Sunday, 17 January 2026. However, the match is under a serious cloud due to a waterlogged pitch and continued heavy rainfall in the region.
The Mariners' A-League Men's fixture at the same venue on Saturday was postponed due to torrential rain. With more wet weather forecast, the league's governing body has confirmed it is actively monitoring both pitch conditions and the weather ahead of the women's game.
Peters Pinpoints Mindset as Key to Away Woes
If the game proceeds, it presents a major challenge for Peters' side. They have managed just a single victory away from home this season, a record the coach is desperate to change. A positive result would help solidify their position in the top six, while the Mariners aim to keep pace with Melbourne City and Canberra United in the race for the Premier's Plate.
"It's hard to quantify. If we knew the answer, we'd probably fix it straight away," Peters admitted regarding the travel form. "We are definitely a more robust and enthusiastic side at home."
He dismissed travel logistics as an excuse, instead focusing on the psychological aspect. "Hand on heart, every game we've travelled to, we've travelled well. Travel's not an excuse for us, it's a mindset and we need to overcome that mindset which is another part of our growth as a team."
Badawiya Boost as Glory Seek Consistency
In a significant boost for the visitors, leading scorer Rola Badawiya is expected to return to the squad. She has missed the past two matches due to a quadriceps injury.
Despite winning four of their last five matches, Peters warned his team against complacency. They are yet to defeat any of the competition's top four sides this campaign.
"We're trying to find some consistency with our performances," he said. "We're quite pleased with where we're sitting at the moment, but if you start ladder-watching, it's not going to get you anywhere."
Peters emphasised that past success means little. "We're trying not to think about the fact we've won four out of the last five. That's done... We want to continue to win matches, we want to play finals football and we want to compete."
