Queensland Roar coach Frank Farina has highlighted the Central Coast Mariners’ never-say-die attitude as a key concern ahead of his side’s Hyundai A-League away clash in Gosford.
The Mariners are only one point behind the third-placed Roar on the table and fresh from a thrilling draw with Perth Glory where a last-minute Sasho Petrovski strike squared the game up.
It was not the first time that Central Coast has made a gutsy comeback this season and Farina was well aware of the fighting spirit his side was coming up against on Saturday.
“They’ve been unbelievable this year, they’ve come from 3-0 down against Sydney, 2-0 down against Adelaide as well, and drew both of those games,” Farina said.
“I think it’s most probably five or six games where they’ve come back from big deficits, or scored in the last few minutes, they’re definitely a side that doesn’t give up and never stops.”
“I suppose that’s why they’ve been successful.”
The Roar are yet to lose away from Brisbane this season, but Farina believed the trip to Gosford would be as tough as any.
“Honestly, without sounding like it’s a throwaway line, it’s difficult, but every away trip is difficult, it doesn’t matter where you go.”
“It’s a hard trip to go on, because they have shown good form at home and they’re a very competitive side, so it’s up there with all the others.”
Aside from their fighting spirit, Farina cited the Mariners’ work with set pieces as one of their major weapons.
“Obviously their height and their set pieces, they work a lot on them and they’ve been very effective with them this year,” he said.
“I think that’s where the biggest danger will come for us, from set pieces, so hopefully we don’t concede too many corners or free kicks around the box.”
Roar defender Luke DeVere suggested he would be focusing on strength more than speed to curtail the Central Coast.
“It’s a different sort of challenge, they probably don’t have the sort of pace that a lot of other teams have, but it’s a big task because of their physical presence,” DeVere said.
“We’ll just have to match up with them and do our jobs and hopefully keep a clean sheet.”
“It’s a big game, obviously they are right behind us on the table so I think the boys will have to lift for it.”
