Mariners need return to winning form on the shores of Brisbane waters

On Sunday afternoon the Central Coast Mariners host arch rivals Brisbane Roar at Bluetongue and it’s been some turnaround in confidence levels for Mariners fans.

Earlier in the season it was impossible not to be swept up in the consistency and confidence the Mariners were exuding but we now find ourselves in the unfamiliar position of having lost three of our last four games including suffering our first at Bluetongue Stadium.

Despite some negative views of the Mariners performance in Wednesday night’s ACL match in Japan, with the number of changes, the travel arrangements, the structure of the team and the sheer quality of the opposition, I find it difficult to see it as anything other than being beaten by a top notch team at their fortress home ground. With Kashiwa Reysol’s team budget more likely to rival the A-League total wages than the Mariners, winning this match was always going to be a massive ask for our boys. Personally I think we put up a pretty good effort under the circumstances and there is certainly no disgrace in that result so far from home.

Now that we turn our attention back to the A-League and find ourselves returning to our own fortress, I can feel the confidence building once again. Despite having lost our last match at home, it would be a fairly hard marker who would consider the performance that night unworthy of retaining some confidence. In Sydney last weekend however we were for the second time at Allianz this season, the second best team on the night, so there is plenty to work on for the coaching staff.

Arnie’s decision to leave four of our best (McBreen, Rose, Bojic and Sterjovski) at home for the Japan trip, now looks like a great move and I’m looking forward to each these guys returning to the team fresh and with plenty of motivation for the team to redeem themselves. As the Mariners prefer, we’re all of a sudden out of fashion and the so called experts expectations are at a season low level. No-one could doubt that when considered the underdogs, the Mariners are at their most dangerous.

Some think Brisbane Roars incredible overall record at Bluetongue entitles them to favouritism in this match, I think it is more likely the statistics are now on the way to evening themselves back out. While Brisbane have improved in the last few matches and they performed pretty well last week, they just don’t seem to have the “aura” they have had for the last couple of years. The Mariners on the other hand may have lost their last match at home but they still performed well and I don’t expect this match to be any different.

The return of our fresh, flying wingers will be the key for mine. If Pedj Bojic and Josh Rose can continue their barnstorming form on the flanks, I believe the Mariners can withstand the northerners, pile the pressure back on Brisbane and take another ‘nick’ out of the long successful Brisbane record at Bluetongue.

The coaching staff will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to continue the boys form at home and with no-one questioning the quality or professionalism of the Mariners (with the exception of the whole penalty issue) I think they are features which are set to continue.

While the Roar are always a tough side and will no doubt be super keen to push the Mariners all the way and force themselves towards the finals, I think our boys will be more motivated than ever to ensure their arch rivals do not re-start their statistical run at our stadium.

This will be a tight match with both sides having plenty to play for but I think the Mariners are still the quality team they have shown themselves to be all season and will be able to come away with the result.

My prediction is Mariners by 1.

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