2007–08 Perth Glory FC season

The Perth Glory finished 7th in the 2007-08 A-League competition making them the worst Australian team in the A-League, for the second consecutive season. Given the team's promising pre-season performances, expectations at the club were to achieve a Top 4 finish, or to at least significantly improve over the performance in the previous A-League season. After a poor start to the season, without a win after the first 11 games and Glory winless for 18 consecutive A-League matches, coach Ron Smith departed^[1] and assistant coach, David Mitchell took over for the rest of the season. After 2 wins from his first 4 games in charge, Mitchell was rewarded by having his contract extended till the end of the 2008-09 Season.^[2]

Squad changes for 2007-08 season

In:

Anthony Danze - From Inglewood United
Blagoja Celeski - From Bulleen Zebras
Dino Djulbic - From South Melbourne FC
Jimmy Downey - From Australian Institute of Sport
Tando Velaphi - From Perth SC
Nikita Rukavytsya - From Perth SC
Nikolai Topor-Stanley - From Sydney FC
Nick Rizzo - From Milton Keynes Dons
Mate Dragičević - From NK Pula
Hayden Foxe - From Leeds United
Mitchell Prentice - From Pahang FA

Out:

Bobby Despotovski - To Inglewood United (Coach/Player)
Luka Glavas - to Sydney FC
Ante Kovacevic - Floreat Athena
Josip Magdic - Floreat Athena
Mark Robertson - Released
Mimi Saric - Released
Adrian Webster - Blacktown City Demons
Stuart Young - Mandurah City
Jeremy Christie - Wellington Phoenix

Friendlies

Malaysian Tour

Perth Glory began their pre-season with three preseason friendlies in Malaysia. Firstly the team defeated Selangor PKNS 3-0 with goals to David Tarka, Naum Sekulovski and Anthony Danze. Perth then moved on to sweep Perak FA 4-0 with a brace to both Nikita Rukavytsya and Jamie Harnwell. Finally, Perth defeated Penang FA 5-1 with another brace to Rukavytsya and goals to Nick Rizzo, Danze and Mate Dragičević.

Local Friendlies

Following the tour of Malaysia, the Perth Glory squad was hit hard by injuries and illness, ahead of a planned series of games against Football West State League sides. Nikolai Topor-Stanley was granted leave due to personal issues, while Mate Dragičević was forced to return to Croatia as a result of visa complications. With only twelve players to call on, Perth Glory succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Perth SC, with Rukavytsya scoring early in the second half. Perth Glory postponed the remaining friendlies, citing the depletion of their playing stocks.

Pre-Season Cup

Round	Date	Home Team	Score	Away Team	Crowd	Stadium
1	14 July 2007	Newcastle Jets	0 - 1	Perth Glory	2,700	Port Macquarie Regional Stadium
2	20 July 2007	Adelaide United	1 - 1	Perth Glory	3,513	Hindmarsh Stadium
3	28 July 2007	Perth Glory	2 - 1	Melbourne Victory	2,700	Darwin Football Stadium
SF	4 August 2007	Central Coast Mariners	2 - 3	Perth Glory	5,967	Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium
GF	12 August 2007	Adelaide United	2 - 1	Perth Glory	9,606	Hindmarsh Stadium

Perth Glory began their Pre-Season Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle Jets. Jamie Harnwell scored in the second half. However, Perth's injury problems were compounded with Anthony Danze and David Micevski the latest players to be put out of action. Perth Glory rushed to sign Mitchell Prentice ahead of the match in order to boost their playing stocks.

The following week, Perth Glory drew 1-1 with Adelaide United. Nikita Rukavytsya scored in the 53rd minute after being played through by a Jamie Harnwell backheel. Cássio equalised in the 60th minute via a well-taken freekick. Hayden Foxe and Nikolai Topor-Stanley made their debuts for the Glory, with Foxe substituted in the 73rd minute due to a minor knee complaint.

In the third round Perth Glory staged a come-from-behind victory over Melbourne Victory to win 2-1 in Darwin. Nikita Rukavytsya and Jamie Harnwell were the goalscorers. Perth Glory finished equal with Adelaide United on points and second in the group due to goal difference, despite winning the most games in the group.

Perth Glory progressed to the pre-season grand final with a 2-3 away victory to the Central Coast Mariners. Dragicevic opened the scoring for the Glory, with Nick Mrdja equalising before half-time. Goals to Bertos and Tarka in the second half sealed the victory for the Glory, with Sasho Petrovski scoring a consolation goal deep in injury time.

Once again forced to travel interstate, Perth Glory lost the pre-season cup grand final to Adelaide United. Perth led at half-time through a Leo Bertos strike, but second half goals to Cássio and Bruce Djite saw Adelaide take the pre-season cup.

2007-08 Hyundai A-League fixtures

26 August 2007	Perth Glory	0 : 0	Newcastle Jets	Members Equity Stadium, Perth
15:00 UTC+8		Report Summary		Attendance: 8,508 Referee: Simon Przydacz

1 September 2007	Melbourne Victory	0 : 0	Perth Glory	Telstra Dome, Melbourne
19:00 UTC+10		Report Summary		Attendance: 31,545 Referee: Peter O'Leary

9 September 2007	Perth Glory	0 : 0	Sydney FC	Members Equity Stadium, Perth
15:00 UTC+8		Report Summary		Attendance: 7,907 Referee: Craig Zetter

16 September 2007	Perth Glory	1 : 2	Queensland Roar	Members Equity Stadium, Perth
17:00 UTC+8	Harnwell 14'	Report Summary	McCloughan 21' McKay 84'	Attendance: 7,203 Referee: Ben Williams

23 September 2007	Central Coast Mariners	1 : 0	Perth Glory	Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
19:00 UTC+10	Petrovski 80'	Report Summary		Attendance: 9,274 Referee: Craig Zetter

30 September 2007	Wellington Phoenix	4 : 1	Perth Glory	Westpac Stadium, Wellington
17:00 UTC+12	R.Aloisi 14' Smeltz 42' Coveny 55' Lochhead 83'	Report Summary	Celeski 10' Djulbic 46' 54'	Attendance: 10,127 Referee: Peter Green

7 October 2007	Perth Glory	0 : 0	Adelaide United	Members Equity Stadium, Perth
17:00 UTC+8		Report Summary		Attendance: 6,252 Referee: Peter Green

12 October 2007	Perth Glory	3 : 3	Sydney FC	Members Equity Stadium, Perth
20:00 UTC+8	Harnwell 53' Robinson 59' Prentice 69'	Report Summary	Brosque 40', 90+3' Patrick 72'	Attendance: 6,876 Referee: Matthew Breeze

21 October 2007	Melbourne Victory	2 : 1	Perth Glory	Telstra Dome, Melbourne
16:30 UTC+10	Hernandez 24' Thompson 34'	Report Summary	Harnwell 42'	Attendance: 25,598 Referee: Simon Przydacz

27 October 2007	Queensland Roar	3 : 3	Perth Glory	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
19:00 UTC+10	Marcinho 45+3' Lynch 69' (pen.), 86'	Report Summary	Moore 18' (o.g.) Harnwell 43' Coyne 90+3'	Attendance: 16,715 Referee: Ben Williams

2 November 2007	Perth Glory	0 : 1	Wellington Phoenix	Members Equity Stadium, Perth
20:00 UTC+9		Report Summary	Daniel 51'	Attendance: 7,105 Referee: Simon Przydacz

9 November 2007	Newcastle Jets	1 : 4	Perth Glory	EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
20:00 UTC+11	J. Griffiths 49'	Report Summary	Durante 25' (o.g.) J. Simpson 51' Rukavytsya 63', 90+1'	Attendance: 8,112 Referee: Peter Green

18 November 2007	Perth Glory	0 : 1	Central Coast Mariners	Members Equity Stadium, Perth
19:00 UTC+9		Summary	Owens 13' Jedinak 83' 88'	Attendance: 7,310 Referee: Craig Zetter

23 November 2007	Adelaide United	1 : 1	Perth Glory	Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
19:30 UTC+10:30	Alagich 41'	Report Summary	Harnwell 68'	Attendance: 10,678 Referee: Peter O'Leary

2 December 2007	Perth Glory	3 : 1	Melbourne Victory	Members Equity Stadium, Perth
17:00 UTC+9	Harnwell 18' Rukavytsya 27', 46'	Report Summary	Caceres 38'	Attendance: 8,030 Referee: Ben Williams

7 December 2007	Wellington Phoenix	3 : 0	Perth Glory	Westpac Stadium, Wellington
19:00 UTC+12	Smeltz 29' (pen.), 72' Felipe 32'	Report Summary	Topor-Stanley 27' Harnwell 74'	Attendance: 8,039 Referee: Strebre Delovski

15 December 2007	Sydney FC	2 : 4	Perth Glory	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
19:00 UTC+11	Corica 50' Bridges 90'	Report Summary	Celeski 34', 35', 77' (pen.) Bertos 49'	Attendance: 12,402 Referee: Michael Hester

30 December 2007	Perth Glory	1 : 4	Queensland Roar	Members Equity Stadium, Perth
19:00 UTC+9	Rizzo 57'	Report Summary	Kruse 34' Reinaldo 42' Minniecon 59' McCloughan 74'	Attendance: 9,614 Referee: Peter Green

6 January 2008	Perth Glory	1 : 1	Central Coast Mariners	Members Equity Stadium, Perth
19:00 UTC+9	Rukavytsya 69'	Report Summary	Hutchinson 38'	Attendance: 6,727 Referee: Strebre Delovski

13 January 2008	Perth Glory	3 : 2	Adelaide United	Members Equity Stadium, Perth
19:00 UTC+9	Robinson 12' Rukavytsya 45+1' Harnwell 62'	Report Summary	Djité 8' Dodd 59'	Attendance: 8,025 Referee: Ben Williams

18 January 2008	Newcastle Jets	2 : 1	Perth Glory	EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
20:00 UTC+11	J. Griffiths 22' Bridge 64'	Report Summary	Rizzo 37' Harnwell 45+2'	Attendance: 16,212 Referee: Michael Hester

Home-and-Away Season

Template:2007–08 A-League table

Notes and references

[1] Smith sacked by Glory^{[permanent dead link]}

[2] Mitchell Rewarded By Glory^{[permanent dead link]}

[1]

[2]

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