Perth Glory’s lead atop the A-League table has shrunk after a second consecutive 0-0 draw, this time against Adelaide United in blustery conditions at HBF Park on Wednesday night.

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Time and space was at a premium in the first half hour of play, as intense pressure in the middle of the park strangled the service to the attackers of both teams.

Glory again named a much-changed outfit – most notably in attack – where Jake Brimmer and Brendon Santalab replaced Andy Keogh and Diego Castro, and the absence of Glory’s Spaniard was notable as they lacked composure and class linking defence to attack.

In the wet and windy conditions Glory slowly began to take over the game, with a 30-yard scorcher from Dino Djulbic calling Paul Izzo into a diving save, and kicking Glory into gear.

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As the hosts piled on the pressure Santalab became a larger threat to the Adelaide goal, twice coming close to opening Glory’s account with two goal-mouth scraps in which he was called offside for one and conceded a foul for a knock on Izzo in goal for the other.

After a tame attacking display Adelaide almost scored with their first shot on goal late in the half, when Craig Goodwin’s long range attempt spilled out of Liam Reddy’s hands into the path of Ben Halloran, who poked an effort back into the Glory goalkeeper’s body and out to safety.

After half time the game descended into a scrappy affair with a number of players from either side going down under pressure from rash challenges.

With a quarter of the game to go Glory’s attacking duo of Keogh and Castro were on the field, with Tony Popovic trying to inject quality into an attack which did little to inspire over the first hour of play.

But after the substitutions it was Adelaide who began to establish themselves in the game, their constant pressure culminating in a golden chance for Craig Goodwin, who could only blast an attempt from close range into the body of Djulbic diving into the line of fire.

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As the game stretched into added time Glory began their customary tilt for a late winner when Jason Davidson skimmed a ball across goal which flew just past the boot of Joel Chianese sliding in at the back post.

Glory recycled the ball back into the penalty area but both Juande and Davidson failed to hit the mark from two late attempts, meaning Adelaide survived with a hard-earned point and Glory walked away with a reduced two-point lead above Sydney on top of the table.

Feature image credit: Vision Inspired Photography

Perth Glory 0

Adelaide United 0

HBF Park

Referee: Adam KERSEY

Assistant referees: Josh MANELLA, Arvin SHANMUGANATHAN

Fourth official: Adam FIELDING

Perth Glory: 33. Liam REDDY (GK), 2. Alex GRANT, 3. Jason DAVIDSON, 4. Shane LOWRY, 5. Ivan FRANJIC (23. Scott NEVILLE 78′), 6. Dino DJULBIC, 7. Joel CHIANESE, 11. Brendon SANTALAB (9. Andy KEOGH 66′), 20. Jake BRIMMER (17. Diego CASTRO 61′), 27. JUANDE, 88. Neil KILKENNY.

Unused subs: 1. Tando VELAPHI (GK), 22. Fabio FERREIRA.

Adelaide United: 20. Paul IZZO (GK), 2. Michael MARRONE, 3. Scott GALLOWAY (7. Ryan KITTO 77′), 4. Ryan STRAIN, 6. Vince LIA, 8. ISAIAS, 11. Craig GOODWIN, 16. Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17. Nikola MILEUSNIC (10. Ken ILSO LARSEN 66′), 23. Jordan ELSEY, 26. Benjamin HALLORAN.

Unused subs: 1. Daniel MARGUSH (GK), 14. George BLACKWOOD, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO.