Newly appointed St Albans soccer club coach Ryan McGuffie is encouraging his players to throw everything they have got at A-League club Perth Glory.
The Saints and Glory will meet at Knights Stadium in the round-of-16 of the FFA Cup. The match starts at 7.30pm.
McGuffie, who replaced former Saints’ head coach Toby Paterson earlier this month, believes his side has nothing to lose.
“It’s going to be a massive game for all the players and it’s great to get the publicity for the club,” he said.
“We approach it as a cup game and anything can happen in a cup game.
“We’re looking at it with the sort of mentality that we have nothing to fear and we just need to do our best.
“In any one game anyone can win.”
St Albans qualified for the last 16 after a brilliant win against Parramatta FC in August.
Although the match was played in Sydney, a large number of Saints’ fans made their way to Melita Stadium to see a super strike from Barry Devlin send his side into the next round.
It was a slightly easier win for Perth, who beat fellow A-League side Newcastle Jets 2-0.
With tonight’s match closer to home, McGuffie is hoping the local community will be out in full voice to support the Saints.
“I’m really hoping the crowd from Victoria really get out in force,” he said.
“It’s a big achievement to get this far.
“It’s a chance for the club to have some success and we hope they will come out and support us.”
In other FFA Cup round-of-16 matches to be played this week, Adelaide United will take on Brisbane Roar, Palm Beach Sharks will host South Springvale and Sydney United and Sydney FC will do battle.
Adelaide City, Central Coast Mariners, Bentleigh Greens and Melbourne Victory are already in the final eight.
