The New Year’s Eve clash with Central Coast in Gosford is win at all costs for the Perth Glory, according to coach Dave Mitchell.
Perth currently sit in seventh position on the Hyundai A-League ladder, six points behind fourth-placed Central Coast, and anything but a win on Wednesday would leave it with too much to do in its remaining three games against Melbourne, Newcastle and Queensland.
Mitchell will go in with an attacking mindset for the clash knowing a win is needed. While he will lose Wayne Srhoj to a corked thigh, captain Jamie Coyne will return from a calf injury and exciting former Dutch international Victor Sikora will make his first start.
“It’s a big game obviously and probably our last roll of the dice. If we don’t win our finals hopes would be over. It has made it difficult with Queensland winning and that has taken it that little bit further away but there’s still a chance, albeit a very slim one,” Mitchell said.
“I’d rather lose 1-0 than draw 0-0 as it’s a game we need to try to win so we will be attacking it. Srhoj is out for sure and Coyne is fit and will slot back in there. There are a few other permutations I might be looking at changing, but at the moment I’m still thinking about it.”
Last time Perth played Central Coast, it appeared to have a win secure before a late Sasho Petrovski goal earned a 2-2 draw for the Mariners. Last time the Glory travelled to Gosford it was even worse with the Mariners winning 4-1, so Mitchell is under no illusions how tough the challenge is.
“It’s a situation where the Mariners are doing well, are a formidable force and they never give up. We saw that when we played them at home and they scored in the last minute, so it will be a tough challenge. It will be an open game and we have to go there to try to win the game,” he said.
“Hopefully we do that and stay in the playoff race. They are a big physical side but play good football as well and never say die. You can’t take it easily against them for sure. We just have to go there with a positive attitude to try to get the result.”
After looking lively in limited game time on the left wing in Friday’s loss to Adelaide, Sikora will start on Wednesday but Mitchell isn’t sure where just yet.
“The good thing is that he can play in three or four different positions. He came on at wide left, but he can also play up front, wide right or in the midfield,” he said.
“I will have a chat to him in the next day or two when we are travelling and find out where he feels more comfortable. (Nick) Rizzo did very well and I took him off to put Victor there. Victor might start there again because Rizzo can also play in a few different positions.”
