How will the Mariners react to losing their head coach just two days before the game? Phil Moss’s sacking dominated the lead-up, now the home side must find a way to win with a new coaching team and against a City outfit with the six very much in their sights.
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MATCH DETAILS
Sunday, 8 March 2015
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-Off: 3pm (Local), (3pm AEDST)
Squads
Central Coast Mariners 1.Matthew NASH (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Josh ROSE, 4.Jacob POSCOLIERO, 5.Zac ANDERSON, 7.John HUTCHINSON (c), 8.Nick MONTGOMERY, 10.Anthony CACERES, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 12.Liam REDDY (gk), 14.Travis MAJOR, 16.Liam ROSE, 18.Glen TRIFIRO, 19.Matt SIMON, 20.Anthony KALIK, 23.Isaka CERNAK, 25.Eddy BOSNAR, 26.Fabio FERREIRA
***two to be omitted***
Ins 14.Travis MAJOR (promoted), 19.Matt SIMON (promoted), 20.Anthony KALIK (promoted), 25.Eddy BOSNAR (promoted)
Outs 15.Matt SIM (not selected), 28.Josh BINGHAM (not selected)
Unavailable 17.Richard VERNES (shoulder – indefinite), 21.Michael NEILL (foot – indefinite)
Melbourne City 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 4. Connor CHAPMAN, 5. Erik PAARTALU, 6. Aaron MOOY, 7. Iain RAMSAY, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 9. Harry NOVILLO, 10. Robert KOREN, 13. Jonatan GERMANO, 15. David WILLIAMS, 16. Josh KENNEDY, 17. Jason HOFFMAN, 18. Paulo RETRE, 20. Tando VELAPHI (GK), 22. Jack CLISBY, 24. Patrick KISNORBO (C), 27. Kew JALIENS, 29. Safuwan BAHARUDIN
***Two to be omitted***
Ins 9. Harry NOVILLO (promoted), 13. Jonatan GERMANO (promoted)
Outs Nil
Unavailable 3. Robbie WIELAERT (ankle 4-5 weeks), 11. Damien DUFF (ankle/calf – indefinite), 19. Ben GARUCCIO (ankle – 9-10 weeks), 25. Jacob MELLING (knee – 2-3 weeks)
Hashtag: #CCMvMCY
Broadcast coverage
TV – Live and exclusive coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 3.00pm (AEDT)
Radio – Online/ABC Radio Mobile phone app. Coast FM 963 (Central Coast)
Referee Jarred Gillett
Assistant Referee 1 Leigh Pigram
Assistant Referee 2 Owen Goldrick
Fourth Official Matthew Cropper
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
The struggling Mariners sacked coach Phil Moss on Friday morning. They now must rebuild confidence and find form under a new coaching team of player-coach John Hutchinson and interim coach Tony Walmsley.
As for the visitors, which City team will turn up this week? John van‘t Schip’s men were superb in the second half to run down Adelaide United last week to suggest they could be a real force come the finals.
But the last time they came to Gosford they put in one of their worst displays of the season.
Inconsistency has been a sorry trait for City throughout 2014/15. A saving grace for the visitors is the Mariners haven’t been much better. While they showed good signs against Sydney FC a fortnight ago they took a couple of steps back in the draw with Newcastle in the F3 Derby.
This and the coaching upheavals – and subsequent potential changes to formation, tactics and attitude from the Mariners – makes the outcome of this clash even harder to predict.
Matt Simon is back in the squad for the Mariners and they could do with his presence in attack after a stodgy display against the Jets last weekend.
City could rush new signing Harry Novillo straight into their squad, after the Frenchman received his international clearance in time to be eligible for this clash. Novillo was signed this week as an injury replacement for Irishman Damien Duff.
OPTA DATA STATS
-Central Coast Mariners are unbeaten in their last eight Hyundai A-League games against Melbourne City FC (W5 D3).
– City have failed to score in three successive Hyundai A-League away matches.
-CCM’s Liam Reddy has been forced in to making 68 saves this season in the Hyundai A-League; more than any other goalkeeper.
ROUTE TO GOAL
City have been crying out for a focal point to their attack all season and Socceroo striker Josh Kennedy is starting to show he can be that man.
He’s been in the side for a few weeks now and has looked more threatening every match, grabbing his first goal for the club last weekend. It’s vital City use their wide players smartly and they must ensure their service is spot-on to get the best out of the beanpole striker.
The Mariners have relied on the pace and trickery of Fabio Ferreira and Isaka Cernak to create in recent weeks but need something more from the midfield.
It would be nice to see Glen Trifiro get a start in the No.10 role, having impressed in short cameo roles in the last few games.
WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?
Phil Moss. He was sacked.