Head coach Tony Popovic is delighted Perth Glory occupy top spot in the A-League going into 2019, but has warned their next month will be a tough one.
The Glory moved three points clear of Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC when they won 4-1 at bottom club Central Coast Mariners.
Two goals apiece from Andy Keogh and Fabio Ferreira - a former Mariners player - gave them a seventh win in the opening 10 rounds.
It was a good response after they had suffered their first defeat of the season in their previous game against Sydney FC.
Their players had 10 days between games, but now face a hectic schedule with six games in January.
Four of those games will be at home, including against Sydney FC, while their trips wil take them to Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City.
Popovic says he will have to manage his squad, explaining: "They're not going to be able to play like today - play on Sunday, then Wednesday, then Sunday at home - with all our travel.
"It'll be up to us to manage them the best we can [in] this January period and I'm hoping they all come through unscathed. Then from February onwards, when it's back to a game a week, hopefully they'll be back at full fitness."
The coach said it was a "great feeling" to be riding high going into the new year, adding: "I thought the players have done exceptionally well in the first third of the season to be in first spot, now we finish the year on top, so there's a lot of good things to look back on."
The Glory are 29/20 to win their next game against Brisbane Roar, who are 9/5, with the draw 23/10.
View all Soccer betting
Head coach Tony Popovic is delighted Perth Glory occupy top spot in the A-League going into 2019, but has warned their next month will be a tough one.
The Glory moved three points clear of Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC when they won 4-1 at bottom club Central Coast Mariners.
Two goals apiece from Andy Keogh and Fabio Ferreira - a former Mariners player - gave them a seventh win in the opening 10 rounds.
It was a good response after they had suffered their first defeat of the season in their previous game against Sydney FC.
Their players had 10 days between games, but now face a hectic schedule with six games in January.
Four of those games will be at home, including against Sydney FC, while their trips wil take them to Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City.
Popovic says he will have to manage his squad, explaining: "They're not going to be able to play like today - play on Sunday, then Wednesday, then Sunday at home - with all our travel.
"It'll be up to us to manage them the best we can [in] this January period and I'm hoping they all come through unscathed. Then from February onwards, when it's back to a game a week, hopefully they'll be back at full fitness."
The coach said it was a "great feeling" to be riding high going into the new year, adding: "I thought the players have done exceptionally well in the first third of the season to be in first spot, now we finish the year on top, so there's a lot of good things to look back on."
The Glory are 29/20 to win their next game against Brisbane Roar, who are 9/5, with the draw 23/10.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com