Clisby calls for Mariners to band together in search of solutions

Central Coast Mariners defender Jack Clisby knows it is tough times for his bottom-of-the-table club and they must find a way to dig themselves out.

The Mariners crashed to an eighth straight defeat on Sunday afternoon at Central Coast Stadium as they were eclipsed 3-1 by the in-form Wellington Phoenix.

The result was borne of clinical finishing from the Phoenix in both halves despite the visitors creating just a fraction of the hosts’ scoring chances throughout the ninety minutes.

Speaking to FOX Sports, Clisby admitted his side need to find it within themselves to take something out of the season with finals football well out of reach.

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“It’s a very difficult time at the moment at the club,” Clisby said.

“As a team and as a club we just have to stick together and keep pushing forward.

“That’s all we can do in tough times like this because nobody is going to get us out of this except ourselves.”

The Mariners took late consolation from the clash through a late strike from Jair, however Clisby suggested that intermittent flashes will not cure his team’s ails.

“[It’s] details at both ends,” he cited as the reason his side has not cracked a win since early January.

“We are not capitalising on good chances that we make and everything that seems to go against us gets capitalised on.

“It’s just minor details that ultimately are big details.”

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By contrast, the Phoenix continue to rise as the result temporarily lifted them to second on the Hyundai A-League table with a third straight win.

Liberato Cacace, who scored the opening goal in his 50^th Hyundai A-League game, said the Kiwi club is not taking anything for granted regardless of their opponents.

“Anyone can beat anyone in this league and we treated this game like they were Sydney FC and top of the table,” he explained.

“So we didn’t really look at the ladder but I think we put out a dominant display and we got all three points.”

Phoenix have never finished a Hyundai A-League campaign higher than fourth position, and Cacace says the influence of head coach Ufuk Talay is the reason they are flying high at the business end of the season – and bringing out the best in his own game.

“He’s implemented a style of play that has worked very well for us. I am learning a lot of things day-by-day and I am just appreciating it,” he concluded.

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