In the same manner as strikers pride themselves on their goalscoring tally, keeping a clean sheet is considered the holy grail for goalkeepers. Eight of those in the first sixteen rounds of the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season, has Danny Vukovic buzzing, and rightly so.
In the same manner as strikers pride themselves on their goalscoring tally, keeping a clean sheet is considered the holy grail for goalkeepers. Eight of those in the first sixteen rounds of the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season, has Danny Vukovic buzzing, and rightly so.
Vukovic has been identified by many of the game-s experts as a standout of season five, and, after equalling his own personal record for the number of clean sheets kept during a season, has his eyes on greater honours.
“It-s equalled a record for me from two seasons ago, I had eight clean sheets in 20 games, so it-s good to get 8 clean sheets in 16, and I-ll be looking to get as many more as I can throughout the rest of the season,” said Vukovic.
The 24-year-old was again a standout in the Mariners- scoreless draw with Perth Glory, producing fine saves to deny both Adriano Pellegrino and Victor Sikora from close range, and while he was happy with his own form, admits it would have been nice to get more out of the match from a team perspective.
“It-s good to help the team out with saves at points in the game, and to keep a clean sheet and make two good saves in the game was rewarding.
“It was a game which could have gone either way at the end. They probably had the better chances, but we also had a few.
“For this week against the Gold Coast we will look to create a few more chances, and we-re confident we can go there and get the win,” Vukovic said.
The fact the Central Coast was able to hang on and get a point, as well as keeping Perth scoreless, was evidence of just how far the club has come in recent months.
“Games where in the past we probably would have lost, we have held on, not conceded and managed to draw. That-s a positive sign, and they are the types of games you need to be getting at least a point out of,” Vukovic said.
Unbeaten in their past four matches, the Mariners turn their attention toward early season heavyweight Gold Coast United, who, although they-ve dropped off in recent weeks, remain well in contention in the top four.
Vukovic knows how important three points is, against a team which will be hurting after coming off the back of a 4-nil thrashing at the hands of competition frontrunner Melbourne Victory.
“As for this week, it-s a massive game, we can go three points clear of Gold Coast if we win, so that-s what we-ll be looking to do.
“They were played off the park by Melbourne. Obviously they had their injuries and suspensions but I-m sure they-re going to have a much stronger team when we play them, so we can-t take them lightly,” Vukovic said.
Victory on Saturday at Skilled Park could see the Central Coast move into second spot depending on the outcome of Sydney FC-s home match against North Queensland, but more importantly help send the top three teams three points clear of the chasing pack.
“For a realistic shot at the title we want to finish either first or second, if you do you get a second chance if you don-t win the first game.
“We-re in a good position, if we win against the Gold Coast, and with Sydney slipping up
(last week against Newcastle), we just need to worry about Melbourne, now, they are six points clear of us, and if we keep dropping points they-ll probably skip too far ahead.
“We-re in the mix and sitting where we want to be,” Vukovic said.
The Mariners- next home match of the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season will be against Melbourne Victory on Saturday, 12 December. Kick-off is at 7:00pm. Tickets are available online here or by phoning 132 849.
Mariners Four Match Christmas Packs are available online by clicking here
