SNAPSHOT OF A-LEAGUE ROUND 11:
THEY SAID IT: "There is a lot of work to do - we need to do better" - Hard-marking Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic after his side ensured they remained unbeaten on the road this season and enjoyed top spot for the eighth straight week following a comeback 4-2 win over a 10-man Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium.
MAN OF THE ROUND - Sydney FC skipper Alex Brosque showed there is plenty of life yet in his 35-year-old legs after recording the first hat-trick of his career in Friday's 5-2 thumping of Central Coast.
STAT THAT MATTERS - Melbourne Victory import Ola Toivonen's became the first player in the club's history to score in five straight A-League games after netting twice in their 2-1 win over Western Sydney.
TALKING POINT - Wellington midfielder Mandi's sendoff after lashing out at Adelaide United's Vince Lia while he lay defenceless over the ball in their 0-0 draw. It drew the ire of ex-Socceroo Mark Bosnich who described it as "completely reckless" and the independent match review panel who slapped the Spanish midfielder with a three-week ban.
WHAT WAS THAT? - Kalifa Cisse ruined any hope of what would've been the upset of the season when, with his team leading 1-0 against Sydney FC, the Central Coast defender drew two yellow cards in the space of three minutes in the 25th minute.
UNDER PRESSURE - Newcastle Jets. After a 10-man Jets lost 2-1 to Melbourne City following Ronald Vargas' second yellow, Newcastle are four points outside the top six with a tough draw ahead. Just one of seventh-placed Newcastle's next five games will be played at home.
INJURY WORRIES - Sydney FC: Ben Warland (foot), Jop van der Linden (hamstring), Trent Buhagiar (knee), Chris Zuvela (knee); Central Coast: Corey Gameiro (calf), Ross McCormack (knee); Adelaide United: Baba Diawara (knee), Lachlan Brook (knee), Mirko Boland (hamstring), Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (quad); Western Sydney: Jaushua Sotirio (hamstring), Mark Bridge (calf); Melbourne Victory: Jai Ingham (quad), Keisuke Honda (hamstring); Melbourne City: Florin Berenguer-Bohrer (calf); Newcastle: Glen Moss (quad), Joe Champness (foot); Brisbane: Avraam Papadopoulos (glute), Brett Holman (knee), Stefan Mauk (groin).
WHAT'S NEXT - Western Sydney host Wellington on Tuesday and on Wednesday Melbourne Victory travel to Adelaide United and Perth Glory host Sydney FC in round 12 fixtures. As part of round 13, Melbourne City host Brisbane Roar on Friday and on Saturday Phoenix host Central Coast and Newcastle travel to Melbourne Victory. On Sunday, Sydney FC host Adelaide United and Western Sydney travel to Perth.
Australian Associated Press
