Mariners ready for biggest clash of the year at sold out Bluetongue Stadium
The moment many have been waiting for has arrived. Central Coast Mariners take on the rampant Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday night at Bluetongue Stadium and matches such as this one are what being an A-League fan is all about. Quite simply, it’s the biggest game of the season so far, with the Premiership at stake.
After a complete demolition of Melbourne Victory last weekend (6-2) the Mariners had to face up to their ACL schedule on Wednesday night when they took on Suwon Bluewings and managed a 0-0 draw. This was a draw that felt like a loss to the fans and while some will believe this has dented the Mariners confidence as they approach the biggest home game of the season, I believe the quality of the performance will have the Mariners riding high after they were unlucky not to take a first up win in their ACL campaign.
All the recent talk has been about the Wanderers form and procession of victories; while the Mariners have “slipped back under the radar” with all the focus on Tony Popovic’s men. The Mariners team and fans have become used to this over the years so it’s no surprise to be the team on top yet facing the challenger at home with few rating our chances.
The other subject of discussion has been the possible imbalance of fan numbers at Bluetongue Stadium for the game on Saturday night. I heartily welcome the Wanderers fans to Bluetongue for the game, they will help provide an atmosphere not to be missed, but I will believe the hype about outnumbering Mariners fans when I see it. Central Coast fans have a habit of turning up to support their team on occasions such as this one and I will be surprised if this weekend is any different. While I expect the Wanderers fans to be there in force, I think the Mariners fans will spring a surprise with their attendance and with their passion for their team.
The grouping of Red and Black active fans will no doubt be larger and chant louder than our own active supporters can, but their chants will not be prouder nor louder than when the sleepy majority of Bluetongue Stadium punters choose to awaken in the terraces and involve themselves in the chanting. Despite perceptions to the contrary, the Mariners core of hardy fans are a passionate bunch with the whole rain soaked 6000 of them chanting a particular new chant together as the curtains closed on another opposition being dismantled at Bluetongue last weekend. I can see plenty of this type of passion re-appearing again on Saturday night, in part because the Wanderers fans presence will draw it from them.
I have a bit of a soft spot for the Western Sydney Wanderers and have been calling them my “second team” since early in the season. On Saturday night though, the gloves are off and they become our mortal enemies, even if only for a couple of hours. While the Wanderers have been in great form they face a Mariners team which they have not beaten this year. After an early draw, the Mariners were able to collect the points in a 2-0 victory on their most recent trip to Parramatta and they will be rightly confident they can go on with the job against their rivals at their home.
Undefeated at home this year, the Mariners will be confident they can get the job done regardless of their mid-week fixture and the Wanderers form. The right players are in form at the right time for the Mariners with Mikey McGlinchey (last week hat trick) and Bernie Ibini (not the same player since trialling with FC Brugge) just a couple of players in super form right at this moment and who will be hard to stop on Saturday night.
While this match won’t be the end of the Premiership, the winner of this game will have made a significant statement of intent and will have their destiny in their own hands leading into the final weeks of the competition. The Mariners players have worked hard for this all year and I expect them to be pumped for the occasion and well aware of what’s at stake.
This will be a close fought match and neither team will give too much away. On the back of their home form and previous performances over the Wanderers I predict a narrow victory for the boys in Yellow – Mariners by 1.
I also predict a good turn out from Mariners fans and some extra passion in the stands. Bring it on!
Google+