A-League Men: Perth Glory midfielder Taras Gomulka hints high-press will return against Melbourne City

Perth Glory midfielder Taras Gomulka says they will aim to play on the front foot with and without the ball against Melbourne City when they welcome the Victorians to HBF Park on Sunday. Gomulka maintained high-pressing will remain part of their tactical framework against the fourth-placed City despite Perth sitting off Central Coast Mariners in last week’s 0-0 draw. Glory coach David Zdrilic temporarily discarded his favoured tactical press for a deeper-lying defensive line against Central Coast after the Mairners played through Perth early, and it helped Glory to their first clean sheet since February and their first point of the A-League Men season. But Gomulka said the shift last week was circumstantial and reiterated his coach’s post-game words that Perth would still look to press where they could. “The main focus for us, it’s always high-pressing, but the way the game was playing, they were getting through us a few times,” he said. “We made a decision as a group to sit back and let them come at us and try and play on the counter-attack. “This week, it’s back to pressing.” Despite being winless in their opening three games of the season, Gomulka said the atmosphere around the squad had remained strong. With Perth seeking their first three points of the season against a City side set to be without Andrew Nabbout (ACL) and Marco Tilio (hamstring), Gomulka said the improvements they had made from round one to three gave them confidence. “It’s a very important game for us as a club. The start this season hasn’t been as we wished for but from round one to round three has been a big improvement,” he said. “Last week, clean sheet, the game could have gone both ways, but the changing room was buzzing. “There’s a real good buzz around the group. From round one to round three, there’s been a lot of steps moving forward, and I think this week’s about putting it all together and hopefully getting the three points in front of the home fans.” Having played 34 games for City across two and a half seasons, the 23 year-old said he was eager to claim the chocolates against his former side. “It gives you a bit of a extra step. You want to go out there, do well, beat them and get one on them,” he said.