Stajcic – Mariners take confidence to Melbourne as blockbuster clash with City awaits

Central Coast Mariners boss Alen Stajcic says Melbourne City are currently the form team of the competition – but that won’t knock his side’s confidence heading into the clash between two top-three sides at AAMI Park in Matchweek 13.

The Mariners drew 2-2 with ninth-placed Perth Glory on Sunday night. The league-leaders had to dig deep to earn just one point from the clash, scoring in the 91st-minute from the penalty spot to salvage a draw in wet and windy Gosford conditions.

The result leaves Central Coast seven points ahead of City on the table, who have played two fewer games than Stajcic’s side.

City have launched up the standings off the back of a four-game winning streak to approach Matchweek 13 with a full head of steam. But Stajcic isn’t intimidated by City’s sparkling run of form as his team hits the road.

“They are in good form,” Stajcic told reporters after his side’s 2-2 draw with Perth.

They’re probably the form team of the competition at the moment.

“(Andrew) Nabbout’s really added a lot of threat and danger to that team, and allowed (Craig) Noone and (Jamie) Maclaren obviously to become even bigger threats than what they normally are.

MATCH REPORT: Central Coast Mariners 2-2 Perth Glory

“Really good team, they’re doing really well but we’ve already played them once this year (a 3-2 win in Matchweek 6), we had a good result and actually a really good performance that night as well.

“We were down 2-0 but in that period I thought we were actually the better team.

“It gives me a lot of confidence that we can take with us when we go to Melbourne this week.”

Stajcic is, of course, referring to the first of Central Coast’s successive come-from-behind 3-2 victories, notched against City and Western United in Matchweek 6 and 7.

City lost their second game in a three-game streak that night in February, coughing up a two-goal lead in the first half to fall victim to a ruthless comeback by the Gosford side.

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It was a result which helped solidify the Mariners’ status as a contender, if not the front-runner for the Premiers Plate in the 2020/21 campaign. But City – along with Adelaide United in second on an identical four-game winning streak – have emerged from the pack to heap pressure on the table-toppers.

But Stajcic’s confidence – garnered from his side’s performance in their last hit-out with City – is boosted by his belief in his squad’s depth, and the options at his disposal in considering how best to approach the Matchweek 13 fixture.

Stajcic benefited from the return of Gianni Stensness against Perth, whose presence in midfield has been notably absent since he last featured against Wellington Phoenix in Matchweek 8.

The midfielder’s return from injury provides Stajcic a headache when considering who will fit in his strongest side to grapple with City.

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“Ultimately it’s the best 11 that will start, and the best 11 for each match,” Stajcic said.

“I thought (Josh Nisbet) was exceptional tonight, in both roles. He started off in a six role, and moved out wide later on.

“Apart from maybe not capitalising on that last chance in the match I thought he was exceptional. His work rate, his tackling, his duels, his effort, his covering of dangerous areas, he really was a standout for me tonight.

“But we’ve had Gianni (Stensness) in that role previously and he’s been a rock for us as well.

“For me as a coach, just to know that we’ve got two or three options for each position, it really means we’re building a good amount of depth and quality in every position.

“From that perspective, it’s going to be important that we’ve got good choices that we have to make for that game against Melbourne.”