It’s a second NSW derby on Saturday as the Wanderers aim to hit back after last week’s late fadeout against a Mariners outfit still searching for a first win of the season.
MATCH DETAILS
Saturday, 29 October 2016
Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Central Coast Mariners
Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park
Kick-Off: 7:50PM (Local) (7:50PM (AEDT))
Referee: Shaun Evans
Assistant Referee 1: Allyson Flynn
Assistant Referee 2: Owen Goldrick
Fourth Official: Luke Withell
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on Fox Sports 505 from 7.45pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport Pop-Up 2 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 702 ABC Sydney, ABC Local Radio NSW, 666 ABC Canberra, Grandstand Digital & Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live, Crocmedia A-League Live (www.facebook.com/A-leagueLIVERadio), EON Sports Radio (eonsportsradio.com), Coast FM 96.3, Hawkesbury Radio
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #WSWvCCM
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au
Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 1.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 2.Shannon COLE, 3.Jack CLISBY, 5.Brendan HAMILL, 6.Mitch NICHOLS, 7.Steve LUSTICA, 8.Dimas (c), 9.Kerem BULUT, 10.Nicolás MARTÍNEZ, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 13.Bruno PIÑATARES, 14.Jumpei, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 17.Artiz BORDA, 18.Robbie CORNTHWAITE, 19.Jacob MELLING, 20.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk)
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 2.Shannon COLE (promoted), 19.Jacob MELLING (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 6.Blake POWELL, 7.Fabio FERREIRA, 8.Nick MONTGOMERY (c), 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Mickael TAVARES, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 13.Kwabena APPIAH, 14.Adam BERRY, 16.Liam ROSE, 17.Josh BINGHAM, 19.Jacques FATY, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 21.Michael NEILL, 22.Jake McGING
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 13.Kwabena APPIAH (promoted), 16.Liam ROSE (return from international duty),
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 23.Jake Adelson (ACL – indefinite), 4.Jacob POSCOLIERO (quad strain – 1 week)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
After an encouraging start, the Mariners revolution under Paul Okon has hit a bit of a roadblock.
While they are enjoying more possession under the new coach’s regime, they have struggled to translate that into goals – apart from a 45-minute burst against Glory in Round 1.
The return from injury of Fabio Ferreira last week could help their cause, and he should be better for the run. And youngster Liam Rose is back from Young Socceroos duty and will add some drive and creativity to the Mariners midfield.
The Wanderers haven’t been without their issues either. It took a stoppage-time winner to hand them their only win so far, while last weekend’s late slip was out of character.
But their new-look squad is slowly starting to gel and it was also around this time last season where they started making their run up the ladder. The Wanderers also have a good recent record against the Mariners, winning all three clashes last season.
The Mariners have also won just two of their last 29 matches in the Hyundai A-League – both of those against Wellington Phoenix.
OPTA DATA
Your Hyundai A-League stats for Round 4
ROUTE TO GOAL
For the Wanderers, midfielder Mitch Nichols has started the season in superb touch and is equal at the top of the assists list in the Hyundai A-League.
He’s struck up an excellent combination with new recruit Jumpei Kusukami and the Japanese winger has proved an astute signing by Popovic.
The main concern for the Wanderers in attack would be the form of striker Kerem Bulut.
An excellent finisher on his day, Bulut has yet to find the net this season and has been caught offside more than any other player in the league (6).
They do have Brendon Santalab as an option off the bench. Or will he start?
The Mariners game plan has been built around maintaining a lot of possession but they haven’t been able to make the most of it in the front third.
Speed is their weapon. In Ferreira, Connor Pain and Trent Buhagiar, they have the pace to hurt teams out wide. The key is finding the right pass to get those players in behind the defence.
Set pieces could be a tactic for the Mariners, with both goals conceded by Western Sydney last weekend coming from dead-ball situations.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Jumpei Kusukami. The Japanese playmaker has been one of the Wanderers best and has made the Hyundai A-League Team of the Week twice in the first three rounds. He looks more and more comfortable with each outing and if he’s in the mood, the Mariners could be in trouble.
