After emphatically defeating your cross town rivals in the first clash you could excuse National Youth League Head Coach Robert Stanton of being confident, however the Sky Blues Head Coach is approaching Sunday’s game with caution following last weekend’s results.
The Wanderers suffered a shock loss to the Central Coast Mariners at the weekend and Stanton believes this will have them fired up for the second Sydney Derby of the season following their 5-0 humiliation against the Sky Blues at Lambert Park in round two.
“The score last time indicated that it was a bit of an easy match but really it wasn’t,” Stanton said.
“I don’t think it will be an easy match, it’s away from home and I think they were a bit wounded last week.
“I think they’ll come out, it should be a very good game, very entertaining game and I’m sure they’d like to resurrect or improve on what they did last week. A team that’s wounded, you have to be careful of a wounded team.
“The fact it’s a derby match, I think both sets of players are quite excited for the game, the motivation will be high,” he continued.
“I just want to maintain that enthusiasm and commitment to what they’ve given to me. I just want the same preparation and to carry over what they did in the first match.”
Halfway through his first season in charge of the Young Sky Blues, Stanton said the season has gone as planned as he targeted continued improvement throughout the year while highlighting his star performers.
“For me [the standouts have been], [Yianni] Spyrakis, Daniel Araujo, Chris Zuvela, they’ve done really well, George Timotheou and Nicola Kuleski, they’ve been really solid,” he said.
“Charles [Lokoli-Ngoy] has also done well and these guys are really starting to show their experience. Their performances have been good too but overall I’m happy with all the guys.
“[The season has gone] pretty much how I expected,” he continued.
“It’s going well at the moment. We’ve picked some really talented boys and the focus is still on developing and trying to find players that can play A-League and create options for the first team.
“I think we can improve though and I hope to be on a slight increase the whole year.
“I don’t expect us to be at our best everytime. What we’re trying to build with the team is starting to come to life and I hope to have little increases throughout the year.”
Sydney FC’s Foxtel National Youth League squad take on the Western Sydney Wanderers in the second Sydney Derby of the Youth League season this Sunday 20 December at Popondetta Park (kick off 4pm).
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