Central Coast Mariners midfielder john Hutchinson says the side is desperate to claim three points when they travel to the Gold Coast this Saturday, to climb into second spot on the Hyundai A-League ladder.
Central Coast Mariners midfielder john Hutchinson says the side is desperate to claim three points when they travel to the Gold Coast this Saturday, to climb into second spot on the Hyundai A-League ladder.
The Mariners are coming off the back of a scoreless draw with Perth Glory, but thanks to Sydney FC-s 3-1 loss to Newcastle and Gold Coast-s 4-nil defeat at the hands of Melbourne, find themselves in third place, and with a great chance to open up a buffer at the top of the table.
Hutchinson admits after the clinical finishing in front of goal in away wins over Melbourne and North Queensland, their attacking firepower needs to be rekindled, following Friday-s stalemate.
“The boys know we didn-t do a good enough job going forward,” said Hutchinson.
“Defensively we were good again, but we didn-t create many chances, they created the better chances, so to get a point was good, but we were disappointed with our performance overall, and we-re looking to get back to where we were against Melbourne and North Queensland.”
While Sydney and the Gold Coast-s results were positives for the Mariners- push toward the top two, Hutchinson insists the Yellow and Navy need to ensure their destiny remains in their own hands.
“We need to work harder though. We can-t keep relying on results to go our way, we need to make the results that we can control better.
“If we get the three points on the Gold Coast obviously we go second but we don-t want to be relying on other people-s results,” Hutchinson said.
The Gold Coast was ravaged by injury and suspension as it crashed to a 4-nil defeat at the hands of first placed side Melbourne Victory at the weekend, just three weeks after the Victory succumbed to their own 4-nil loss, to the Mariners at Etihad Stadium.
Hutchinson believes the Gold coast will have redemption firmly on the agenda as they return home this Saturday.
“No one likes to lose by big margins at any time. They have got a good team and some dangerous players.
“We need to watch what they can do well, but we need to concentrate on our own game, and get back to working hard, keeping the ball and knocking it around again,” said Hutchinson.
The only other Hyundai A-League meeting between the two sides ended 3-nil in the Mariners- favour at Bluetongue Stadium in September. Hutchinson was on the scoresheet on that occasion, but says that result will count for nothing, should they not back it up at Skilled Park.
“It is a positive, any time you beat a team is a positive, but we need to make sure we work hard.
“All the boys are committed to getting a good result, and if we can do that, hopefully we will be second at the end of the week.
“The boys are all doing well. With Pedj (Bojic), Matty (Crowell, Mikey (Michael McGlinchey), Trav (Nicky Travis) and myself, as well as Ahmad (Elrich) who has been playing up front and looking really good, so there is competition for positions and I think that shows by the performances that the boys have been putting in,” Hutchinson said.
The Mariners- next home match of the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season will be against Melbourne Victory on Saturday, 12 December. Kick-off is at 7:00pm. Tickets are available online here or by phoning 132 849.
Mariners Four Match Christmas Packs are available online by clicking here
