North Queensland coach Ian Ferguson has called on his players to treat Saturday night’s clash with Central Coast as a virtual ‘Cup final’.
Having produced a five-match unbeaten run to move off the bottom of the table, the Fury crashed in the last round, producing one of the club’s worst performances this season as it went down 2-0 at Newcastle.
Back at the bottom of the standings, Ferguson said the next two weeks, where the Fury take on Central Coast and Adelaide at home, will go a long way towards determining how his side finishes off its inaugural season.
“The next two games are crucial for us,” said Ferguson.
“The two home games are to me, up finals, it’s as simple as that.”
“They’ll determine where we’re going to be. Are we going be with the pack or are we going to be detached.”
“(And) it’s a six-pointer tomorrow night,” he added.
“We can either be eight points behind or two points behind, that’s how crucial it is.”
Ferguson gave just two of his players pass marks from the clash with Newcastle. But while Paul Henderson will once again line up between the sticks, James Robinson will miss the rest of the season after being stretchered from the EnergyAustralia Stadium field with a serious knee injury.
It’s a cruel blow for the former Perth Glory man, who was in excellent touch before joining team-mates Shane Stefanutto and Scott Wilson on the long-term injury list.
Fortunately for Ferguson, the coach is able to bring the experienced Robbie Middleby and Karl Dodd back into the side, with Dodd’s inclusion allowing makeshift centre back Rostyn Griffiths to return to a regular midfield role to replace Robinson.
Fury skipper Robbie Fowler has also shrugged off a niggling hip injury and is expected to play the full match against a Mariners side fresh from belting Melbourne from pillar to post in a 4-0 thrashing last round.
“They’re on a tremendous run of form at the minute,” noted Fowler.
“Probably one of the best performances the Mariners have had for a long time while from us, we’ve had one of our worst.”
“So it’s going to be a tough game … (but) obviously the manager, he’s told everyone the importance of this game.”
“We don’t want to get too adrift at the bottom, so it’s there for us,” he said. “We know what we’ve got to do.”
