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Preview: Mariners v Wanderers

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The Central Coast Mariners are gearing up for their final home game of the season against the Western Sydney Wanderers. Ahead of the clash, Caretaker Coach Alen Stajcic spoke with media. Kick-off on Saturday night is 7:50pm.

It’s always a big occasion when the Wanderers come to town and we want this one to be just as big. Both Mariners and Wanderers fans can purchase adult tickets from $20 and with the purchase of every adult ticket you can bring up to FOUR KIDS FREE!

The Mariners will be looking to beat the Wanderers for the first time this season having fallen short on two occasions. To help with that challenge, Stajcic’s squad is bolstered with the return of Aiden O’Neill & Kye Rowles after serving one week suspensions.

Midfielder Tom Hiariej missed our most recent battle with Melbourne Victory and will be monitored over the coming days to determine whether he is fit to play.

The Wanderers come to town with pride to play for. Since the arrival of former Mariner Mitch Duke in January, Markus Babbel’s side have looked a dangerous proposition. They come into this match full of confidence after drawing 1-1 in the derby against Sydney FC.

What’s been said, Alen Stajcic.

“There’s been positives in every game, the first half wasn’t great but the second half we showed a little bit of character and resilience and took the game to Melbourne Victory,” Stajcic said. “It was a shame to lose the game from a set piece. It was the same against Perth, we conceded at some critical moments as well. I thought it was a better performance and we need to take what we can and build on them for this week.

Our opponents, the Wanderers…
“They have not had a great year either, I’ve watched them many times this year and for the quality of players they have the consistency has not been there. That is what makes them a dangerous team, they are inconsistent, they have had very good matches but also matches where they haven’t been at their best. In the past three to four weeks they have really hit a good curve with Mitchell Duke and Mahazi coming in and they have hit a rich vein of form and have taken the games to their opponents. Last week they took it to a high-level club in the derby and probably should have won against Newcastle. It’ll be a tough game but like the last few weeks it will be a good test for us to see how far we have come in a short period of time.

The goal for this match…
“We want to win the game, it doesn’t matter how many goals we score, that’s always the objective. We have to do everything we can, put all the different parts together and put it together for as long as we can which we still haven’t done for the last four weeks. We haven’t been able to put a full package together of our defending, attack, transition and set pieces. Until we do that, we aren’t going to be a consistent team. That’s the goal this week and we just want to keep improving and building upon the good parts we have had.

Jordan Murray’s contract extension…
“Its Jordan’s first year in the A-League and he has been an excellent NPL player for a long time. It’s always tough coming into the A-League and having to back up week in and out at a high level and I think he has shown that he can do that. I’m hoping over the next couple of seasons his ability starts to shine after learning the durability and consistency of week to week preparation at this level. I have high hopes for Murray and hope he can develop into one of the leading attackers in the A-League. He’s a good player and wants to learn, he works hard and has the good attributes that we want this club to be built on over the next couple of years.

Squad news…
“We have three or four players all carrying niggles. Tom Hiariej hasn’t really recovered yet so we will assess him closer to the game and there is a couple of others, Aspro and Painy have a couple of knocks so we will wait and see if they’re fit for the weekend. McGlinchey is also out, he hasn’t got a fracture which is good but there is a lot of swelling. We also see Kye and Aiden return from suspension, it’s a shame they missed last week, I think they would’ve added a lot of value to our team against the Victory. Two Olyroos, two kids that want to play and improve themselves and keep their spots in that Olyroos squad.

Our last home game…
“It is very important for us to play well and as I’ve said since I started it is really important for us to lay a good platform for next year and give the fans, the players and the club hope that we built something that can be sustainable and consistent next season. I hope everyone comes out, I know a lot of Wanderers fans like to travel up the road as well and hopefully there is a good atmosphere and crowd for the teams to put a show on,” Stajcic said.

Word from the opposition camp
“It will be surreal playing at that stadium on the other side,” Duke said. “I started my professional career there, so I’m excited to go there and play, it’s a great stadium. I’ve got a lot of friends up there, I’m going to enjoy it, so it’s going to be a great achievement.  – Mitch Duke.

Squad lists

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 3.Jack CLISBY, 6. Tom HIARIEJ, 7. Andrew HOOLE, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Adam PEARCE (gk), 13.Aiden O’NEILL, 15.Kye ROWLES, 18.Matt MILLAR, 17.Peter KEKERIS, 19.Matt SIMON (c), 22.Jacob MELLING, 23.Mario SHABOW 25.Jordan MURRAY, 28.Sam GRAHAM, 29.Stephen MALLON, 68.Jem KARACAN
***Two to be omitted***

Ins: 6. Tom HIARIEJ (return from injury), 13.Aiden O’NEILL (return from suspension) & 15.Kye ROWLES (return from suspension), 17.Peter KEKERIS (promoted)

Outs: 8.Michael McGLINCHEY (foot injury)

Unavailable: 10.Tommy OAR (knee injury) & 21.Corey GAMEIRO (knee injury)

Western Sydney Wanderers FC: 3.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO, 5.Brendan HAMILL, 9.Oriol RIERA, 10.Alex BAUMJOHANN, 11.Bruce KAMAU, 12.Mitchell DUKE, 13.Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS, 14.Mathieu CORDIER, 17.Keanu BACCUS, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Rashid MAHAZI, 24.Raul LLORENTE, 27.Kwame YEBOAH, 28.Roly BONEVACIA, 33.Tate RUSSELL, 50.Jack GREENWOOD (GK), 60.Oliver KALAC (GK)

Ins: 14.Mathieu CORDIER (promoted), 27.Kwame YEBOAH (promoted), 33.Tate RUSSELL, 60.Oliver KALAC (promoted)

Outs: 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (injury – shoulder), 49.Abraham MAJOK

Unavailable:  8.Jordan O’DOHERTY (injury – knee), 34.Patrick ZIEGLER (injury – knee]

Opta Stat Attack

  • The Wanderers currently enjoy a four-game winning streak against the Mariners
  • The Mariners have lost their last five games on the bounce against the Wanderers at Central Coast Stadium
  • The Wanderers have lost their last two A-League games away from home conceding three goals on each occasion – the last time they lost more in succession on the road was a three-game stretch from Feb to March in 2018
  • The Mariners have conceded the most second half goals (38) of any team, the Wanderers have conceded the third most (25).
  • The Wanderers have attempted 5.2 shots on target per away game, the joint most of any team in the competition
  • Matt Simon has conceded a joint competition high 51 fouls this season
  • Oriel Riera has attempted 86 shots this season, the second most of any player.

Match Details
Hyundai A-League Round 26
Saturday, 20 April 2019
Match: Central Coast Mariners vs. Western Sydney Wanderers
Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-off: 7:50pm (AEST)
Tickets: CLICK HERE
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA
Hash-tag: Join the match conversation using #CCMvWSW & #CCMFC
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA
Hash-tag: Join the match conversation using #MVCvCCM & #CCMFC

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