Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulvey is pleased with his side’s pre-season progress to date but has asked his players to lift to another level in this afternoon’s double header at Ballymore Stadium.
Both matches of the double header will be live-streamed on www.brisbaneroar.com.au
Mulvey has the unique opportunity to field players against both Central Coast Mariners (3.45pm) and National Premier Leagues Queensland team Brisbane City (6.30pm), in a bid to continue their regimented training programme ahead of the season start on Sunday, 12 October.
“We made some good progress this week on structures, shape and ball movement so I’m relatively happy at the moment,” Mulvey said.
“I’m looking forward to the double header tomorrow, it gives us the opportunity to play every player which is what part of the plan was.”
Since winning the 2014 Hyundai A-League Grand Final, Brisbane has enjoyed a strong pre-season, beating local sides Moreton Bay Jets and Redlands United 8-1 and 3-0 respectively before progressing to the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 with a 4-0 win over Stirling Lions.
In the Townsville Football Cup, Mulvey’s side comprehensively beat Newcastle Jets 4-0 and Northern Fury 5-1 before a 2-0 defeat to Sydney FC in the final match of the tournament.
“To play A-League opposition, that’s the indicator that tells you where you are at,” he said.
“We’ve played Newcastle Jets, we’ve played Sydney so we have a good handle on ourselves after those performances.
“What I’ve just told the players today is that we are looking for two good performances tomorrow night.”
Mulvey will not risk senior players Matt Smith, Shane Stefanutto and Thomas Broich, who are all overcoming small injuries while Socceroo Matt McKay is still working his way back to full fitness following minor ankle surgery in the off-season.
