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'Wanderers belief never wavered'

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 09 April 2013 | 09.57

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Defensive rocks ... Beauchamp and Topor-Stanley laud the influence of coach Tony Popovic. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Michael Beauchamp has gone to two World Cups. Nikolai Topor-Stanley has been a professional footballer for seven years.

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But that wealth of experience hasn't been the sole reason for the success of their tenacious combination at the heart of Western Sydney Wanderers' defence.

Both centre-backs admit as much. And it's no surprises who they pay tribute to for helping them hold the fort on the way to 10 clean-sheets and an A-League low of 21 goals conceded. 

"(Coach Tony Popovic) changed my game leaps and bounds," Topor-Stanley told foxsports.com.au.

"Everyone talks about little small details he never over-looks and it's those one per centers that really make a difference."

Fans and pundits have marvelled at the side's attention to detail – their ability to consistently win a loose-ball, close down their man, or hit expertly on the break.

Topor-Stanley, whose career spans stints at Sydney FC, Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets, had always been a first-team A-League player. But now, looking chiselled, fit and athletic, he says it wasn't until he walked into Wanderland that he truly understood what was required of him to go to the next level as a player.

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"It's taken me seven years of professional football to understand what is truly meant by that," he admitted.

"That's why I think we're a pretty consistent team – not up and down each week."


Watch the Wanderers host the Roar for a place in the A-League grand final, LIVE at 7.30pm (EST) on Friday on Fox Sports 1 HD.


When asked if he could compare Topor-Stanley of 2013 to this time last year, the left-footed centre-back laughed at the difference.

"Not really – I mean, I was seven kilos heavier," he said.

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"I'm really happy I made the move. I'm under a great leader in Popovic, the boys here are second to none and there's a great culture here."

Club captain Beauchamp has played at the highest level, starting for the Socceroos against Serbia at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

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But even the well-travelled defender admits he owes his 2012-2013 performance to the guidance given by one of Australia's greatest defenders.

"This year, certain things Poppa has tweaked, I've never had that from a coach before," Beauchamp told foxsports.com.au.

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"It's changed my game personally. It's made the game a lot easier.

"I think Topor and I have spoken about it a bit – the simple things you need to change a little bit and it makes you see the game a whole lot differently."

They'll have a key role to play again, lining up against feisty Brisbane Roar striker Besart Berisha as the defending-champions try to cash in on some late-season momentum.

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There's been much written about the fairytale, the unbeaten run, the surprise packet, the hype in western Sydney.

But when you talk to the players, they reveal a sense of belief that was instilled the moment Popovic picked up the phone. He barely had to convince them to join the club.

"Once I got the phone- call from Poppa; knowing him as a player and having had a chat to him initially, there was no second-guessing where I wanted to be," Beauchamp said.

"Everything he told me on the phone has happened this season, I'm sure it will continue. He's a winner – on and off the field."

Was there no element of doubt about joining the great unknown? Topor-Stanley said: "I was hoping one day I'd get the chance to work with him. As soon as he called me up, I knew it was a no-brainer."

The themes whenever the Wanderers players talk are often similar. Admiration for Popovic. Working hard for the team. 

On cue, Topor-Stanley added: "It's not just Michael and myself ... we defend as a team from the front."

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"How many balls have we won down that end? It comes down to the hard work."

Focus is another obvious trait.

That's certainly one thing that won't be wavering heading into this weekend's preliminary final as they achieve the goals they set themselves.

"We set up in Lismore in our pre-season camp and set our goals for the season," Beauchamp said.

"We've achieved a lot of things so far, (but we) still have one thing to go, get into that grand final, and hold up the trophy. We're one game away from that, hopefully we can get there.

"It's great to be a part of it in general. It hasn't come overnight; there's been a lot of hard work. We had a very tough pre-season – this is what has got us to where we are now. It's a great honour to lead the boys out there each week and to see where all the boys have come as players.

"The hunger they still have is a credit to all the boys."

And belief is what has stirred this side on from day one, when there were just a handful of them at training, sweating it out based on a trust in their new coach.

"I think early doors, a lot of people said we'd be competitive and this and that, but the more I saw the boys training, the more I started to be amongst it, I could see from very early days we'd be more than competitive," Beauchamp added.

"It's been an incredible journey but something we all believed. That's why we are where we are."


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Sewell hamstrung for Pies clash

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Sidelined ... Brad Sewell to miss at least a week after injuring a hamstring against the Eagles. Source: Paul Kane / Getty Images

Hawthorn onballer Brad Sewell will miss Sunday's blockbuster clash against Collingwood with a hamstring strain.

Sewell, 29, sustained the injury during the Hawks' 50-point win against West Coast in round two and was subbed out of the game at Subiaco in the third quarter.

He's also in danger of missing Hawthorn's encounter with Fremantle in Launceston in round four, but he told FOX FOOTY's AFL 360 that he was hopeful of missing just the one game.
 
"It's a little bit tight, there's a little bit of bleeding down low in a bit of an odd spot," Sewell said on Tuesday.

"It might only be this week – it was really low grade.

"I don't know exactly when I did it. I came off and it was a little bit tight … so I put the red vest on.

"It really will be just dependant on how it responds. Hopefully I'll run again (on Wednesday), then Thursday (and so on)."

In better news for the Hawks, former Bulldog Brian Lake has declared himself fit for the big clash against the Pies after missing the first two rounds thanks to an injury-interrupted pre-season.

"He's always chomping at the bit," teammate Josh Gibson said on Monday.

"Everyone wants to be playing senior footy, especially for a new club.

"I know he was pretty excited (on Monday) that he got through (his first VFL game) and didn't have any sore spots. So look out this week."


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'Watson hasn't been doing the job'

Out of form ... Gillespie thinks Watson's performances haven't been up to scratch. Source: Rick Rycroft / AAP

Former Test paceman Jason Gillespie believes the uncertainty and confusion surrounding Australia's batting line-up is a serious problem heading into the Ashes.

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Gillespie, now head coach of English county side Yorkshire, predicts Australia will be in for a tough time when they tour England in June.

He is optimistic about Australia's bowling stocks but expects the batsmen to struggle against impressive English quicks Jimmy Anderson and Steve Finn.

Gillespie said Australia's top order appeared beset by confusion.

"There are issues,'' Gillespie told UK newspaper The Guardian on Tuesday.

"If they (selectors) don't feel they're the best six batters then change them.

"But if they are, then give them a good run and back them privately and publicly."

Gillespie said the case of out-of-form batsman Shane Watson was one where selectors should be decisive.

"We can't gloss over the fact that, as a Test cricketer, he hasn't been doing the job," said Gillespie, who played 71 Test for Australia.

"... Is he in Australia's best XI? If he is, then support him to the hilt. If not, make the call and move on."

While Gillespie admits England are in a "good place" ahead of the first Test on July 10, he is excited about Australia's young pace bowling stocks featuring the likes of Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson.

"Australia's bowling is strong and they'll surprise a few people in England," he said.


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Mariners shattered by late goals

Tight tussle ... Berni Ibini and Guizhou's Victoriano Rivas Alvaro. Source: Paul Miller / AAP

The Central Coast Mariners were cruelly denied a first ever away win in the Asian Champions League when Guizhou Renhe scored twice in the last six minutes to beat the A-League side 2-1 in China.

An all-Australian Mariners line-up looked comfortable throughout and led through a first-half penalty from Mitchell Duke until Bosnian striker Zlatan Muslimovic equalised with a solo strike and striker Qu Bo won it two minutes later with a rebound shot after Zvjezdan Misimovic had hit the post.

From being on the verge of qualification, the Mariners are now tied with Guizhou on four points and need to take something from their next match at Suwon Bluewings, just two days after a potential appearance in the A-League grand final.

The key games keep coming thick and fast for the Mariners, with their participation in the April 21 grand final to be decided by this Sunday's meeting with Melbourne Victory in Gosford.

The Mariners got lucky with a soft penalty award for Rao Weihui's slight contact with Nick Fitzgerald in the area but were full value for their lead until they were undone by the individual brilliance of Guizhou's Bosnian pair.

Group H P W D L GD Pts
1 Kashiwa 4 3 1 0 7 10
2 Guizhou 4 1 1 2 -1 4
3 Central Coast 4 1 1 2 -2 4
4 Suwon 4 0 3 1 -4 3

Guizhou sat strangely deep at Guiyang Olympic Sports Centre and mostly let the visitors move the ball under little pressure.

The opening goal came in the 41st minute as Oliver Bozanic, one of eight changes to the side that beat Guizhou 2-1 last week, swept in a cross from the left. The ball was too high for Fitzgerald but the referee ruled that his full-length tumble was due to a nudge from his marker.

Memories of the Mariners' five straight missed penalties earlier this season resurfaced with apparent uncertainty over who would take the kick.

With Daniel McBreen among those left at home, captain John Hutchinson eventually handed the ball to Duke, whose shot slipped under the diving goalkeeper for his first goal away from Bluetongue Stadium.

Guizhou coach Gong Lei continued to tinker erratically with his side throughout the match and was sent to the stands in the second half for his touchline protests.

His captain, Sun Jihai, shot just wide midway through the second half following some smart build-up play but the Mariners remained in the ascendancy and Duke was only denied a second goal by a sliding block.

That looked to be it but Muslimovic cut inside fullback Hayden Morton on the left and carried the ball into the area before firing it across goalkeeper Mat Ryan into the net.

Misimovic almost put the home side ahead but teammate Qu did the honours, putting away the rebound from a difficult angle.


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Video: goal of the year in round 32?

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Take your pick ... round 32 dished up several contenders for the EPL goal of the season. Source: Neal Simpson / AFP

Did round 32 of the Barclays Premier League dish up the goal of the season? The award-givers certainly have plenty to choose from.

Matthew Lowton put the exclamation mark on Aston Villa's crucial win over Stoke City with a strike right out of the top drawer.

But he faces stiff compeition in the form of Kevin Mirallas's slalom run and finish against Tottenham and Sergio Aguero's Manchester derby-winning rocket.

Sit back and watch the five best goals from another riveting round of EPL action in the video above.

Newcastle United might have picked up a crucial three points on the weekend, but they're still stuck in a good old-fashioned relegation dogfight.

If the Toon army do survive, they might just look at Saturday's last-gasp win against Fulham as a key moment.

Manager Alan Pardew's celebration of Papiss Cisse's 90th minute winner tells you just how big a win it was from the Geordies.

Watch Cisse's cool-as-ice finish and Pardew going bananas in the video below.

Tomas Rosicky's Arsenal career has been punctuated by injury, but the Czech dynamo showed just what he offers to the Gunners during their big win over West Bromwich Albion.

Rosicky was involved in everything good Arsenal produced in the final third, and was rewarded with a brace of goals.

Wenger is a big fan of the midfielder and with Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott battling injuries, he is shaping up as a crucial part of Arsenal's run-in and pursuit of a prized top-four finish.

Watch Rosicky's masterclass against the Baggies below.

Jay Rodriguez's fine individual performance in Southampton's win over relegation strugglers Reading rewarded him with a place in the EPL Team of the Week, but there might be a bigger reward in store for the Saints forward.

Rodriguez is eyeing a place in the England national team and if he can keep adding to his nine goals this season, Roy Hodgson might just come knocking.

See who else won a place in the EPL Team of the Week below.


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National winner Mania leaves hospital

GRAND National winner Ryan Mania has left hospital after an MRI scan revealed he sustained only minor injuries in a fall the day after his Aintree triumph.

The 23-year-old was taken to hospital after tumbling from his mount on his return to action in Hexham, northeast England on Sunday, a day after his National victory on 66-1 outsider Auroras Encore.

The Scot was kicked between the shoulder blades after his fall and spent two nights in hospital but a scan of his neck and back showed no serious damage.

"I'm feeling tired and sore but I am doing OK," he told reporters after leaving hospital in Newcastle on Tuesday.

"I remember the horse jumping and then stumbling a couple of strides later. The next thing I remember is a sharp pain in my back."

Earlier, Mania's agent, Bruce Jeffrey, said: "Ryan had his MRI scan this morning (Tuesday) and it has shown up a very small fracture in his C7 vertebra and there is also some soft tissue and ligament damage.

"Ryan feels fine in himself and he is up and walking about perfectly fine. He is hoping to be back in the saddle in the very near future.

"Once again, Ryan and his family would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for their support. It has been fantastic, and he just can't wait to get back riding again."

A party in Mania's honour was due to take place in his home-town of Galashiels, southern Scotland, on Tuesday evening.


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