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Western Sydney down hapless Perth Glory

Perth Glory’s winless streak extended to six A-League matches after losing 2-0 to Western Sydney Wanderers at nib Stadium on Saturday night.

Mateo Poljak opened the scoring in the 11th minute before substitute Tomi Juric doubled the lead in the 70th minute after being gifted a goal from a horrendous William Gallas mistake.

Attempting to clear the ball from danger, the Glory’s international marquee player missed the ball entirely, allowing Juric to coolly dribble around Danny Vukovic and slide the ball into an empty net.

The Glory have failed to score in the first half in their past six matches and their slow start was evident again as they failed to register a shot on target in the first 45 minutes.

Poljak’s opening goal was all too easy as he was allowed to turn in the box and score with a left-footed drive after receiving a ball from 21-year-old Kwabena Appiah, who dribbled the ball from the right hand wing without any pressure from the Glory.

Labinot Haliti and Appiah were a constant problem for the Glory as they were able to get in behind the back four of Gallas, Michael Thwaite, Rosh Risdon and Riley Woodcock on a number of occasions.

Steve McGarry and Chris Harold were replaced by Jacob Burns and Darvydas Sernas at half time and the changes made the Glory a lot more competitive in the second half.

Perth’s best chance came in the 69th minute when a Rostyn Griffiths header was saved on the line by Jerrad Tyson in the Wanderers goal but all that hard work was undone moments later with Gallas’s school boy error.

The result leaves Western Sydney in second spot while Glory could find themselves at the bottom of the ladder if Melbourne Heart are able to improve their goal difference with a positive result against Brisbane Roar on Sunday.

Glory interim coach Kenny Lowe was happy with his side’s second-half effort.

“First half, no one turned up. Second half, it was a brand new set of people turned up so chalk and cheese,” Lowe said.

“I’m disappointed, they’re disappointed but you roll onto the next day and dust yourself down and get on with it.

“There’s seven or so games left so there’s plenty of points to play for.” Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic was pleased to be heading home with the three points.

“The performance I think can be better,” Popovic said.

“In the second half, we probably gave away too much possession and gave them a chance to get back in the game.”

“I thought we could’ve had the game over at half time but a great three points.”

He said the defensive mistake by Gallas was all part of football.

“That happens in football doesn’t it. You have got to put away that opportunity and Tomi took the chance well. He showed a lot of composure to put it away and we punished them for that, so it was pleasing.”

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