Central Coast Stadium will play host to a top of the table clash on Thursday night when the Mariners host Adelaide United and the two sides meet for the second time this season.
Their previous meeting came just over a month ago, in Adelaide, with the Reds prevailing on a controversial night thanks to three penalties all converted by Tomi Juric.
Now, the Mariners sit first and Adelaide second and Alen Stajcic’s side will be keen to get a slice of revenge for that initial outing.
Our lens wasn't clean but the turn from @dan_bouman certainly was. Catch the boys in action tonight at @CCStadium! #CCMFC #WontBackDown#CCMvADL ?? https://t.co/aZYzYr0wlH pic.twitter.com/MNHPr1R4xX
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) March 31, 2021
The Mariners were all over Melbourne Victory last Saturday but were unable to land a telling blow and pull away, sharing the points with Victory in a 1-1 draw.
Staj did not touch on that previous game when he spoke on Wednesday, but instead praised the recent Mariners crowds and mentioned Adelaide’s good form of late.
“The crowds have been really engaged,” he said.
“The entertainment value has been great this year, we’ve had some unbelievable matches, regardless of whether we’ve won, drawn or lost it has been exciting so I think spectators are getting value for money.”
“They are seeing the team fight for each other so from a fan perspective there’s not too much more they can ask for from this club and the team at the moment and we are giving our all, everything we can, every time we step on the pitch and no doubt that’ll happen tomorrow night.”
“Adelaide are on a roll, extremely confident, I think the win against us was the first one that they had in the run of six in a row,” Staj said.
“Since Goodwin has come in on top of that and Jakobsen at the back they’ve added a lot of quality and experience, and Ryan Strain back from injury as well.”
“They are just a good solid team all round, a well-coached team, experience around the pitch with a sprinkling of youth who have added that excitement as well. Yengi up front has been a handful the last 3 or 4 matches so they’re a good team and they are building nicely and they have a lot of confidence in their camp as well.”
The boss confirmed that Gianni Stensness was withdrawn from Saturday’s game as part of load management and that he would be a key part of tonight’s match, as he returns from a stint on the sideline and looks to settle back into the form that made him so dominant alongside Oliver Bozanic in midfield.
The match will also have a milestone element, with Mariners defender Stefan Nigro set to make his 50th A-League appearance when he runs out.
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Squads |
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 4.Joshua NISBET, 5.Stefan NIGRO, 6. Gianni STENSNESS, 7. Stefan JANKOVIC, 8.Oliver BOZANIC (c), 10.Daniel DE SILVA, 11.Jack CLISBY, 12.Marcos UREÑA, 14.Daniel BOUMAN, 15.Kye ROWLES, 19.Matt SIMON, 20.Adam PEARCE (gk), 21.Ruon TONGYIK, 22.Michal JANOTA, 23.Dan HALL, 25. Matthew HATCH, 26.Jaden CASELLA, 29.Alou KUOL
**1-3 to be omitted**
Ins: 7.Stefan JANKOVIC (Promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Adelaide United squad: 3.George TIMOTHEOU, 4.Ryan STRAIN, 6.Louis D’ARRIGO, 8.Stefan MAUK (c), 9.Tomi JURIC, 11.Craig GOODWIN,18.Joe CALETTI, 19.Yaya DUKULY, 22.Michael JAKOBSEN, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 24.Pacifique NIYONGABIRE, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 27.Josh CAVALLO, 28. JUANDE, 29.Kusini YENGI, 33.Dakota OCHSENHAM (gk), 34.Yared ABETEW, 35.Al Hassan TOURE, 37.Jonny YULL, 46.Joe GAUCI (gk)
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 9.Tomi JURIC (returns from injury), 19.Yaya DUKULY (promoted), 37.Jonny YULL (promoted)
Outs: 21.Javi LÓPEZ (knee)
Unavailable: 1.James DELIANOV (hamstring), 7.Ryan KITTO (hamstring), 15.Noah SMITH (groin), 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS (knee), 17.Mohamed TOURE (hamstring)
Match Details |
Thursday, 1 April 2021
Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-Off: 7:40pm (Local)(7:40pm (AEST))
Referee: Shaun Evans
Assistant Referee 1: George Lakrindis
Assistant Referee 2: Andrej Giev
Fourth Official: Tim Danaskos
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7:30pm (AEDT), Sky Sport 7 (New Zealand), Kayo Sports (www.kayosports.com.au) and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers
Radio Broadcast: myfootballnation.com (SEN Track Gosford 801AM), COAST FM 96.3
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