While Perth Glory may be unbeaten in their past six home matches dating back to November 1, Central Coast Mariners Football Manager Lawrie McKinna is confident his side can return from ME Bank Stadium with the three points which would prove so vital in the quest for a top six finish.
While Perth Glory may be unbeaten in their past six home matches dating back to November 1, Central Coast Mariners Football Manager Lawrie McKinna is confident his side can return from ME Bank Stadium with the three points which would prove so vital in the quest for a top six finish.
“They-ve got a good record at home and obviously the travel, but there will be no excuses,” said McKinna.
“We have to go there and give it everything, we need to win games now to have any chance, and Wellington is the team we are after now, so it starts at the weekend against Perth.”
The Mariners are unbeaten to start 2010, following 1-all draws against North Queensland, Adelaide United and Gold Coast, and McKinna says the signs the squad has shown in the last three performances gives him plenty of confidence that his side can turn the one-pointers into three-pointers.
“There-s still plenty to play for but Sunday night will be the telling factor.
“If we go out there with the application (we showed in) the second half (against Gold Coast) at the weekend … that desire and work rate, then we-ll create chances, and we could have had five (goals) in the second half.
“We deserved to win it but we didn-t. We-ve stopped the defeats but it-s about turning those draws into wins, and if we get a win at the weekend we-re right in the mix,” McKinna says.
Mariners- bound striker Daniel McBreen has been in great form for Dave Mitchell-s side since his recent switch from North Queensland, scoring in both of his appearances for the Glory, and playing a major role in helping them return to the winners- circle after slumping to a 6-2 thrashing at the hands of Melbourne just two weeks ago.
“They-ve turned around after being beaten by Melbourne (6-2 at Etihad Stadium on January 16) with a great comeback against Adelaide and a solid performance against Wellington.
“At the weekend we should have got three points but that-s football. It-s made it very hard for us but we can go to Perth, be positive and look to get a victory, which will be hard,” McKinna said.
The Central Coast will be without defender Nigel Boogaard, who has received a mandatory one match ban after being sent off in the dying stages of last Friday-s draw with the Gold Coast, meaning Brad Porter is likely to revert back to the right-fullback position, and creating an opening in midfield.
“He (Porter) has been solid there this season and that-s something we-re looking at, and we-ve got Matt Crowell, (Nicky) Travis and guys like that coming in to fill the midfield so we-ve still got plenty of depth there,” said McKinna.
One player McKinna would dearly love to see continue his white-hot form of late is striker Nik Mrdja. Mrdja has scored three goals in his past three matches and returns to his hometown this Sunday.
After four injury-riddled seasons, The Mariners- boss is hopeful that recent form can help sink Mrdja-s former club.
“He-s leading the line well, he-s holding the ball up, he-s scoring goals, he-s getting goalscoring opportunities and creating things for other people.
“He-s probably in the best form since he-s been at the club,” McKinna said.
Perth Glory Squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 2.Daniel McBREEN, 3.Jamie COYNE, 4.Andy TODD, 5.Jamie HARNWELL, 6.Chris COYNE, 7. Jacob BURNS (c), 11. Branko JELIC, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 13.Scott BULLOCH, 14. Steven McGARRY, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17.Todd HOWARTH, 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI, 20.Aleks VRTESKI (gk), 21.Mile STERJOVSKI, 23.Andrija JUKIC, 28. Tommy AMPHLETT
*three to be omitted*
In: Branko JELIC (promoted), Scott NEVILLE (promoted), Tommy AMPHLETT (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Wayne SRHOJ (knee – 1 week), Viktor SIKORA (thigh – 1 week)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 2. Matthew CROWELL, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Brad PORTER, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 9. Nik MRDJA, 11. Dylan MACALLISTER, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 15. Andrew CLARK, 17. Chris DOIG, 18. Alex WILKINSON (C), 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Danny VUKOVIC (GK), 22. Nicky TRAVIS, 23. Adam KWASNIK.
In: Nicky TRAVIS (promoted)
Out: Nigel BOOGAARD (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: Nigel BOOGAARD (suspended), Ahmad ELRICH (ankle – indefinite)
The Mariners- final home match of the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season will be against Newcastle Jets Saturday, 6 February. Kick-off is at 6:00pm. Tickets are available online here or by phoning 132 849.
