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Wanderers need ‘miracle’ to reach finals

It’s not often rival A-League coaches agree with each other, especially when one of them is writing off the other’s finals chances.

But that’s exactly what happened on Saturday night when Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold declared Western Sydney’s top-six hopes all but over and Wanderers mentor Tony Popovic admitted his counterpart was right.

Until now, Popovic has steadfastly maintained that as long as it’s mathematically possible, his side will continue to vie for a top-six spot.

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But after going down to the Sky Blues 4-3 in a thrilling derby to remain dead-last on the ladder, the Wanderers boss conceded for the first time this season they’d need a miracle to get there.

Sydney on the other hand, are going from strength to strength.

Saturday’s victory lifted them to fourth place, just four points off top spot with a home final in sight.

Arnold remained confident his side could continue to rise – but asked if the Wanderers’ finals chances are dead and buried he didn’t beat around the bush.

“Yes I think so,” he said.

“The derbies have been fantastic, I’ve enjoyed them enormously.

“But I think that’s the last time we’ll play them this season.”

For Popovic, the reality of a hectic schedule as they continue their Asian Champions League defence and the fact they’ve won just once in 17 domestic games finally dawned.

The Wanderers now face four games in nine days as they prepare to host Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande on Wednesday before travelling to Brisbane to face Roar next Sunday.

With 10 A-League matches remaining, Popovic’s men are languishing a massive 16 points outside the play-off spots.

Asked what he thought of Arnold giving them no chance of making it, Popovic said: “If you look at the table, he’s got a point.

“We need a minor miracle now to get there but there’s still a lot to play for.

“We’ll pick ourselves up and we’ll go again on Wednesday then we’ll go again on Sunday then Wednesday then Friday.

“That’s the schedule we have … but we’ve just got to keep getting better.”

In other A-League action, Melbourne City kicked off the round on Friday with a resounding 3-1 win over third-placed Adelaide to lift themselves into sixth spot.

Ninth-placed Newcastle and the Central Coast, who remain in eighth, did their finals chances no favours playing out a scoreless draw.

Brisbane, who sit in seventh spot, held front-runners Perth to a 2-2 draw on Saturday night, extending the Glory’s winless streak to six games.

-AAP

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