As Melbourne Victory prepares for yet another top of the table showdown in the Hyundai A-League, skipper Kevin Muscat is bracing for a physical affair when the league leaders take on second-placed Central Coast at the Telstra Dome on Friday night.
The Mariners moved into second spot – three points adrift of Melbourne – after last week’s emphatic 3-0 win over Asian Champions League finalists Adelaide with the Reds slipping to third as a result.
With the rest of the competition enjoying last weekend off – as a result of the Socceroos’ upcoming World Cup clash against Bahrain – Muscat closely monitored the Central Coast’s performance last week and was impressed with what he saw.
And the hard man of Australian football is on standby for a punishing encounter on Friday night given the way the Mariners’ powerful front three of Matt Simon, Dylan Macallister and Sasho Petrovski terrorised Adelaide last week.
“It will be a difficult proposition for us,” Muscat admitted on Tuesday.
“I watched their game on the weekend and they scored three goals off set pieces and they seemed to use the three big boys up front very effectively so it’s important we get on top of that battle.”
But Muscat warned the latest team to challenge Melbourne’s dominance at the top of the ladder that his team would not be intimidated by the Mariners’ rugged playing style on Friday night.
“They (the Mariners) are a physical bunch and we have got to match them in that area,” Muscat said.
“We have to stand up, walk an inch taller because if you get intimidated by them they will keep slinging balls into the box and sooner or later they will turn you over.”
The match will be Melbourne’s first at home since a disappointing 2-0 loss to Sydney on October 25 in the first of the club’s recent top of the table showdowns.
Muscat blasted his side after that performance but the Victory has since responded by beating both then league leaders Adelaide and fifth-placed Queensland away from home – which has consolidated the club on top but also allowed Central Coast to leapfrog Adelaide and Sydney into second spot on the table.
“We are one from two so hopefully we can make it two out of three this week,” Muscat said following the recent loss to Sydney and win over Adelaide in other recent showpiece Hyundai A-League matches.
“I said after the Sydney game we wanted to go on a bit of a run and collect some points and that is still the focus.”
“But we have turned the corner since that loss and this is our last home game before Christmas so we will want to put on a show for our fans and hopefully they will turn out again in big numbers.”
Meanwhile Melbourne has announced the signing of Wellington Phoenix keeper Glen Moss for next season.
Moss, who has played eight times for New Zealand but is also an Australian citizen, will join the Victory next season on a two year deal.
