Match preview: Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory

There’s a massive challenge in front of Central Coast Mariners as reigning Champions Melbourne Victory come to Gosford in the opening game of a triple-header on Saturday.

It’s not just the eight places and 27-point gap difference on the table that separates the two sides but also the weight of history against Mike Mulvey’s troops.

Victory are undefeated in their last 16 games against the Mariners in the Hyundai A-League and have scored nine goals against them in the last two meetings.

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The Mariners have improved since then but come into this one having suffered the agony of conceding a stoppage-time goal to lose 2-1 to Adelaide United on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Victory had the same scoreline in their most recent match, but that was a narrow win over Big Blue rivals Sydney FC last Saturday night.

Currently four points behind league-leaders Perth Glory, three points are crucial for Kevin Muscat’s men and they won’t be complacent when they arrive at Central Coast Stadium.

With striker Ola Toivonen in red-hot form – he’s been directly involved in 13 goals this season (10 goals, 3 assists) – it’s hard to see anything but a win for the Big V.

Key Opta stats

Central Coast Mariners’ last Hyundai A-League win against Melbourne Victory came in April 2013; they’ve since picked up just two competition points in five home games against them.
Victory have conceded just one goal from outside the box this Hyundai A-League season, the joint-fewest of any team in the competition.
The Mariners have only scored five second-half goals this Hyundai season; four fewer than any other side.

Ins and outs

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITS, 3.Jack CLISBY, 6.Tom HIARIEJ, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 8.Michael McGLINCHEY, 10.Tommy OAR, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Adam PEARCE (gk), 13.Aiden O’NEILL, 15.Kye ROWLES, 18.Matt MILLAR, 19.Matt SIMON (c), 22.Jacob MELLING, 23.Mario SHABOW, 25.Jordan MURRAY, 26.Josh NISBET, 68.Jem KARACAN

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 10.Tommy OAR (return from injury), 23.Mario SHABOW (return from injury), 68.Jem KARACAN (new signing)

Outs: 17.Peter KEKERIS (omitted)

Unavailable: 21.Corey GAMEIRO (calf) & 4.Jake McGING (hamstring)

Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Matt ACTON (GK), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Corey BROWN, 5.Georg NEIDERMEIER, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Kenny ATHIU, 8.Terry ANTONIS, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.James TROISI, 11.Ola TOIVONEN, 13.Birkan KIRDAR, 14.Tommy DENG, 15.Raul BAENA, 16.Josh HOPE, 19.Rahmat AKBARI, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (GK), 21.Carl VALERI (C), 24.Elvis KAMSOBA, 25.Anthony LESIOTIS

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 5.Georg NIEDERMEIER (returns from injury), 13.Birkan KIRDAR (promoted) 19.Rahmat Akbari (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: Jai INGHAM (quad – TBC), Keisuke HONDA (Hamstring – 1 week)