Central Coast is expected to continue with its attacking mindset and name three strikers for Saturday night’s Hyundai A-League stoush with Sydney FC.
The fourth-placed Mariners beat arch rivals Newcastle last week with Dylan Macallister, Matt Simon and Sasho Petrovski combining well up front.
The attacking trio are again in line to start together against Sydney at the SFS on Saturday after the Sky Blues put a run of poor results behind them with a 2-1 win over Melbourne.
Last week’s victory against the Jets was Macallister’s first start of the season and he marked the milestone with a well-taken first half winner. But it was his link play with Petrovski and Simon that impressed Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna.
A brilliantly taken Shannon Cole freekick was the difference between the teams when they last met at Gosford and McKinna is expecting another absorbing contest.
There is a history of epic matches between the teams since the start of the Hyundai A-League. Many regard last December’s 5-4 victory to Sydney as the competition’s best-ever match.
McKinna said another high scoring contest is on the cards.
“It’s a derby atmosphere,” McKinna said.
“Both teams have a go at each other. We’ve been playing good football, we now have to continue the good form and take it into Sydney.”
A key to the match will be how the Mariners defence handles Sydney’s in-form front men.
John Aloisi, who had a successful stint on the Central Coast last season, scored his first goal for Sydney last week and will be full of confidence heading into this encounter, while former Jet Mark Bridge also got his name on the scoresheet last weekend.
