A-League Men: Perth Glory midfielder Nicholas Pennington hoping to spoil Auckland’s potential premiership win

Perth Glory midfielder Nicholas Pennington has expressed his frustration at his side’s poor A-League Men’s season, but hopes they can put it behind them to spoil Auckland FC’s potential premiership party. The Glory face the ladder-leaders on Sunday at Go Media Stadium, and the hosts know a point would be enough to seal the title. Auckland might have even won the premiership before kick-off if Melbourne City fail to beat Adelaide United on Saturday night. Glory on the other hand, are fighting to avoid back-to-back wooden spoons and overturn Brisbane Roar’s one-point lead over them in the final two games of the season. Whatever the case, Perth are braced for a party-like atmosphere in Auckland, but Pennington said they were eager to crash the celebration. “It’s good motivation for us to actually ruin the party. They’ll probably win it (the title) anyway, but for us, it’s good motivation to still play an important game and try to be the best we can in front of a lot of fans, because the stadium will probably be full,” he said. “It’s been a very hard season, as we all know. It’s a shame that we’re in this situation. “We’ve probably not done our best, but we’ve tried our best, and there’s been a lot of things that haven’t worked out, a lot of small things that should have been done better from the start. “I came here because I wanted to win the league. I didn’t come here just to play in the A-League; I came here because I actually thought we would do well.” Perth arrived in Auckland on Friday, and Pennington, a former Wellington Phoenix player is used to lengthy plane trips. “It’s hard for the body to travel in the plan,e but you just do what you can, try and sleep and eat well, and get ready for the game,” Pennington said. “This one is a bit longer. Fortunately, we’ve gone a couple days earlier, so that will help a lot. “Sitting in a plane for seven hours, it’s a hardship. But they have to do it to come here, and we have to do it to go there. It’s just part of part of the A-League and part of the game, so it won’t matter once we’re on the field. Pennington said goalkeeper Oli Sail was the club expert on dealing with long-haul flights due to his trips away with the New Zealand national team. “Oli is the master of that. He’s done it a lot of times and he goes away with the national team as well so he’s done it a lot of times from Perth, he’s the one giving tips out,” he said. “I’m definitely used to it now, after three years, I have a routine. I know what I’m doing. Just get through the plane trip. I’m used to it.”