The Mariners will be ready for action on Wednesday night when they host Brisbane Roar at Central Coast Stadium in A-League Match Week 18.
Alen Stajcic’s side will be aiming to snap the club’s seven year winless streak against the Roar, and will be ready to buck that trend with a strong home performance off the back of Saturday’s thrilling with Sydney.
A 10,000 strong crowd provided an electric atmosphere on Saturday, and Mariners defender Stefan Nigro said he hopes to see more of it tonight.
“We [the players] were talking about it after the game, the atmosphere was incredible,” he said.
“The highest attendance I’ve played in front of at home this year and you could definitely tell out there.”
“We want to make this place a fortress and that was a good start and we will keep building on that for the rest of the home games this year, that’s a great bench mark.”
“We really enjoyed playing in front of such a great atmosphere.”
Nigro played for the Roar during his first stint in the A-League, but said there’s no warm or sentimental feeling ahead of the crucial clash against them.
“Not really, I’m a Mariners player now,” he said.
“I’m fully focused on taking each game as it comes. To me, I played for those teams but it doesn’t really matter anymore. I’m a Mariners player and that’s all that matters to me.”
Ruon Tongyik has returned to the squad after suspension for Stajcic, while Jordan Smylie and Stefan Jankovic have also been added.
For the Roar, they made a late change on Wednesday with Patrick Flottman joining the group after signing a short-term injury replacement deal from Sydney.
The two teams have not yet met this season, thanks in large part to the border closures and travel issues that plagued the early part of the season.
Now, they will meet twice in the space of two weeks, with a second meeting set up for Wednesday, 12th May at Dolphin Stadium.
The meeting shapes as a crucial one, with the Mariners getting the chance to take back first spot on the table and put a dent in the Roar’s charge up the table with games in hand.
For the Mariners, it is their final home game for a month, with the next five meetings on the road including a massive, potentially Premiership influencing clash with Melbourne City at AAMI Park.
PATRONS ARE REMINDED THAT THE WESTERN LIFT IS NOT IN OPERATION FOR TONIGHT’S GAME!
Squads |
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 3. Lewis MILLER, 4.Joshua NISBET, 5.Stefan NIGRO, 6. Gianni STENSNESS, 7. Stefan JANKOVIC, 8.Oliver BOZANIC (c), 10. Daniel DESILVA, 11.Jack CLISBY, 12.Marcos UREÑA, 14.Daniel BOUMAN, 15.Kye ROWLES, 19.Matt SIMON, 20.Adam PEARCE (gk), 21. Ruon TONGYIK, 23.Dan HALL, 25. Matthew HATCH, 26.Jaden CASELLA, 29.Alou KUOL, 30. Jordan SMYLIE
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 7. Stefan JANKOVIC (promoted), 21. Ruon TONGYIK, (Return from Suspension), 30. Jordan SMYLIE (Promoted)
Outs: 22. Michal JANOTA (Ankle – 1 week)
Unavailable: Nil
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Macklin FREKE (gk), 2.Scott NEVILLE, 6.Macaulay GILLESPHEY, 8.Danny KIM, 9.Masato KUDO, 10.Riku DANZAKI, 11.Joe CHAMPNESS, 15.Jesse DALEY, 16.Joshua BRINDELL-SOUTH, 17.Golgol MEBRAHTU, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22. Patrick FLOTTMAN, 23.Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 25.Rahmat AKBARI, 26.Jay O’SHEA, 27.Kai TREWIN, 29.Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 34.Alex PARSONS, 37.Cyrus DEHMIE
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 8.Danny KIM (promoted), 9.Masato KUDO (promoted), 22. Patrick FLOTTMAN (new signing), 29.Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS (promoted), 37.Cyrus DEHMIE (promoted)
Outs: 3.Corey BROWN (suspended), 5.Tom ALDRED (hamstring)
Unavailable: Nil
Match Details |
Wednesday, 28 April 2021
Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar FC
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-Off: 7:05pm (Local)(7:05pm (AEST))
Referee: Alex King
Assistant Referee 1: Ryan Gallagher
Assistant Referee 2: James Cleal
Fourth Official: Ben Abraham
VAR: Kurt Ams
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7:00pm (AEST), 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 Central Coast 801AM, SEN App), COAST FM 96.3
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #CCMvBRI
To purchase tickets click here!
