A-League Stats Insider: Perth Glory's tremendous start to the season in stats

Andy Keogh and Jason Davidson react. (AAP Image/David Mariuz)
Andy Keogh and Jason Davidson react. (AAP Image/David Mariuz)Source: AAP
Fox Sports Lab with Staff Writers from Fox Sports

PERTH Glory is sitting pretty on top of the A-League table.

These stats underline the Glory’s early dominance in the 2018/19 season.

That and more in A-League Stats Insider!

Get every match of the 2018/19 Hyundai A-League LIVE. Get 1 month free Sport HD plus Entertainment with no lock-in contract and no iQ4 box fee. T & C apply. SIGN UP NOW!

SUPER STATS THAT UNDERLINE GLORY’S DOMINANCE

Four rounds into the season and Perth Glory are sitting on top of the table for the first time since Round 20 in 2014/15.

When you take into consideration they were stripped of their finals spot for salary cap breaches, the last time the Glory were legitimately on top of the table was Round 4 in the 2010/11 season.

Indeed, their tally of 10 points from their opening four games is a club record, while it’s just the second time Perth has been undefeated after its opening four matches.

Crucial to that effort has been the work of striker Andy Keogh and winger Chris Ikonomidis.

After netting against Adelaide, Keogh has scored in four consecutive matches to start the season.

Perth Glory players celebrate. (AAP Image/David Mariuz)Source: AAP

The only other player to achieve this was Brisbane Roar’s Charlie Miller at the start of the 2008/09 season.

Meanwhile, against Adelaide, Ikonomidis recorded his second goal of the season.

The 2-0 win was the first time Perth had won consecutive away games in the same season since 2015/16.

The Glory have now also scored in their past 16 matches — the second-longest streak in club history.

But for Adelaide, things werne’t so good.

The Reds suffered their first loss of the season and are winless in their first three home games for the fourth consecutive season.

Adelaide also managed just one shot on target (of 11 total shots) for the entire game.

BRUNO’S DROUGHT-BREAKER IN CITY’S BREAKTHROUGH

It’s not often Bruno Fornaroli struggles to hit the scoreboard.

But the Melbourne City star went a remarkable five A-League games without scoring — the second longest drought of his A-League career.

That came to an end with his delightful goal against Wellington on Friday night.

Bruno Fornaroli of Melbourne City (centre) celebrates. (AAP Image/Hamish Blair)Source: AAP

In the 2-0 victory, Ritchie De Laet scored his second goal in four games, while City kept a clean sheet for the first time this season.

Impressively, City kept Wellington to just five shots for the game — with only one of those on target. Having conceded 14 shots against Melbourne Victory in Round 1, City has given up just 15 in the following three games.

It was the third consecutive week the Phoenix have been held goalless.

RIERA STARS AS ROAR CLAW BACK DRAW

Oriol Riera was the star of the show as the Wanderers played out a 2-2 draw with Brisbane.

The Wanderers marksman scored a rapid-fire brace — the third double of his career, and his second brace against the Roar.

Riera has now scored consecutive braces against the Roar and has five goals across his past three games against Brisbane.

He had six shots in total but was unable to add to his early tally.

Oriol Riera of the Wanderers celebrates. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne)Source: AAP

It was the sixth straight time the Wanderers have failed to score a second-half goal against Brisbane — their past nine goals against the Roar have all come in the first half.

While the Roar fought back to earn a 2-2 draw, the result meant for the second consecutive season, Brisbane has been winless from its opening four games.

Alex Lopez scored his first A-League goal, while Adam Taggart scored his third goal in four games.

Taggart has now scored five goals in 10 games against Western Sydney.

VICTORY CLOCK NEW LEAGUE RECORD IN MARINERS THUMPING

On Sunday evening, Melbourne Victory made it back-to-back wins with a 4-1 demolition of the Mariners.

In the process, Victory set a new A-League record for the longest undefeated streak against an opponent.

Melbourne are now undefeated in their past 16 games against the Mariners — one ahead of Sydney’s 15-game streak against Newcastle — with 12 wins and four draws to their name.

In that time, they have outscored the Mariners 40-14, while Victory are also undefeated in their past 10 games against Central Coast against AAMI Park, winning their past nine encounters at the venue.

Joshua Hope of the Victory celebrates. (AAP Image/George Salpigtidis)Source: AAP

The game was the Mariners’ 12 consecutive loss at AAMI Park. They hold the record for the longest result streak at a venue.

Meanwhile, a number of players ticked off personal milestones.

Youngster Josh Hope scored his first A-League goal in his seventh appearance, while Mario Shabow — who scored with his first touch of the game — also scored his debut A-League goal in his 10th game.

James Troisi scored his first goal of the season, as did Corey Brown, who opened his Melbourne Victory A-League account.

Meanwhile, Keisuke Honda continued his fine start to the season, recording his second goal — to go with his three assists over the opening four rounds.

BROSQUE EXTENDS NEWY RECORD, JETS TURNING TIDE

Prior to this game, Sydney had held a 29-game winning streak when it led games at half-time.

The last time it led at half-time and failed to win was Round 24, 2015/16, when the Mariners snatched a 2-2 draw.

But Nick Cowburn’s first A-League goal — in his 60th game — ultimately ended that run.

It also meant Newcastle extended its unbeaten streak against the Sky Blues to three games, a feat they last achieved in 2012/13.

The Sky Blues celebrate. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

The Sky Blues recorded just five shots for the game, their lowest number on record against Newcastle (since 2007/08).

But Alex Brosque’s goal extended his own individual A-League record of 14 goals against Newcastle.

The Sydney captain has now scored seven goals in his past nine appearances against the Jets.

Brosque’s goal also equalled an A-League record, with Sydney scoring in 15 consecutive away games against Newcastle. Melbourne Victory have achieved the same streak against Perth.