Perth Glory crashed to a record equalling 6-0 defeat to high-flying Western United, Lachlan Wales leading the way with a first-half hat-trick in Launceston on Saturday.

It came just two games after the 6-1 loss to Newcastle Jets with Glory now having conceded 18 goals in five A-League games.

It always going to be tough for Glory but it was all too easy for second-placed United.

Coach Ruben Zadkovich, who has promised repercussions, made five changes and included seven home-grown players.

Before the game he wrote to owner Tony Sage saying: “Our backs are against the wall yet again.

“We are down to the bare a 16 fit players and 90 per cent under 20 years old.

“The kids will do very best to compete under these excruciating circumstances.”

After the game Zadkovich said the performance was “extremely poor”.

“I’m not just talking about the young inexperienced players, I’m talking about some of our seasoned professionals,” he said.

“You’ve got to want to fight.

“I’m fuming to be honest. There will be repercussions.”

Glory had nothing to lose and got off to a lively start, frustrating United with a couple of tidy moves.

But youthful enthusiasm can only go so far and they lacked any real finishing power with United exposing glaring defensive holes.

Glory almost caught United on the hop in the opening 20 minutes when a Daniel Stynes had a shot from outside the box was blocked.

He sent a second effort off target a few minutes later before United’s first chance with Nikolai Topor-Stanley heading a half-chance over the bar.

But the stuffing was knocked out of them with Wales’ double and two more before the break left things looking very bleak.

They conceded just two more as United took their foot off the throttle.

Goalkeeper Liam Reddy kept Glory in the game midway through the first-half, saving a Aleksandar Prijovic penalty, harshly awarded for handball against Josh Rawlins.

But Reddy could do nothing about a quickfire double from Lachlan Wales soon after.

Wales knew little about the first when he deflected home a Connor Pain cross but his second was a stunning a volley from outside the box.

Glory went three down as the left hand side opened up and Dylan Pierias tapped home a Pain cross.

Wales completed his hat-trick just before the break when he lost his markers in the box and helped himself to an easy goal.

Things got worse when United were awarded their second penalty, Wales going down when Antonee Burke-Gilroy tugged his shirt.

Prijovic did not miss this time.

Their sixth from Dylan Wenzel-Halls came courtesy of of some sloppy defending.

Glory battled hard and substitute Joshua Anasmo had a couple of chances but United were just too good.