The Central Coast Mariners will be looking to carry momentum from their first win of the Hyundai A-League season into Friday night as they take on ladder leaders Melbourne City at AAMI Park as part of Remembrance Round.
Thank you to all ADF personnel for their service, and for their good luck message ahead of our game tonight in #RemembranceRound! #CCMFC #MCYvCCM pic.twitter.com/UvqO8N2pKv
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) November 7, 2019
Alen Stajcic’s men pulled off a heist in Perth last weekend, with a stunning defensive performance in the second half helping secure all three points at HBF Park, and it will be tough going against an undefeated City outfit.
Good news for Mariners fans though is a clean bill of health for their team, with Staj reporting this week that the squad came through the Perth game unscathed before travelling to Melbourne during the week.
“Everyone has really recovered well, we had a good couple of days in Perth recovering and recuperating,” he said.
“Everyone is 100% and we’ve got a full squad to choose from.”
“Considering how we performed, we’re starting to have some serious competition for spots which is most important for us going forward.”
Danny DeSilva was withdrawn in the second half of that clash with an ankle concern but is fit and raring to go for Friday night and looking to back up a strong performance.
CLICK HERE TO SEE A LIST OF AWAY GAME VENUES ON THE COAST!
Much of the talk leading into the game has been about the absence of Jamie McLaren for Melbourne City with a hamstring injury, but Staj is aware that regardless of personnel this test will be a tough one.
“We always focus on our team, but at the end of the day we’re playing against a team that is on top of the ladder at the moment and made the FFA Cup final,” he said.
“So they are probably the most in-form side in the competition [at the moment].”
“We know how hard a game it will be, away from home again but we’re ready for the challenge.”
“We played last year’s premiers last week and did really well and this is just another great challenge for us to see how we’re progressing as a side this year.
“It’s been good so far but another test for us tonight that’s for sure.”
Squads |
Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Tom GLOVER (gk), 2.Scott GALLOWAY, 3.Scott JAMIESON (c), 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 8.Javier CABRERA, 11.Craig NOONE, 13.Nathniel ATKINSON, 17.Denis GENREAU, 19.Lachlan WALES, 20.Adrian LUNA, 21.Ramy NAJJARINE, 22.Curtis GOOD, 23.Dean BOUZANIS (gk), 30.Moudi NAJJAR, 34.Connor METCALFE, 35.Raphael BORGES RODRIGUES, 36.Kerrin STOKES , 49.Stefan COLAKOVSKI
**2-4 to be omitted**
INS: 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE (returns from suspension), 8.Javier CABRERA (returns from injury)
OUTS: nil
Unavailable: 9.Jamie MACLAREN (hamstring), 10.Florin BERENGUER (hamstring), 40.Richard WINDBICHLER (hamstring)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Ian Zygmunt GORDON, 3.Jack CLISBY, 4. Eunsun KIM, 6.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO, 7.Milan DURIC, 8.Michael MCGLINCHEY, 9.Jordan MURRAY, 10.Thomas OAR, 11.Daniel DE SILVA, 12.Adam PEARCE (gk), 14.Abraham MAJOK, 15.Kye ROWLES, 16.Dylan FOX, 17.Samuel SILVERA, 18. Gianni STENSNESS, 19. Matthew SIMON, 21.Ruon TONGYIK, 22.Jacob MELLING, 26.Joshua NISBET
**2-4 to be omitted**
INS: 14. Abraham Majok (Promoted), 22. Jacob MELLING (Promoted)
OUTS: Nil
Unavailable: 25. John ROBERTS (International Duty)
Match Details |
Friday, 8 November 2019
Melbourne City FC v Central Coast Mariners
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-Off: 7:30pm (Local) (7:30pm (AEDT))
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Ilievski
Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Meimarakis
Fourth Official: Lachlan Keevers
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Watch: FOX SPORTS 505 from 7:00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 7 (New Zealand), Kayo Sports and MyFootball Live App
Listen myfootballnation.com (1116SEN, SEN+, SEN2, SEN3, SEN SA, Super Radio Network, Coast FM Gosford).
