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Round 2 Preview: Mariners v Melbourne City

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It’s our first home game of the season and we host Melbourne City at Central Coast Stadium. With plenty of subplots to this fixture, it makes for an intriguing encounter for both sides. Kick-off at Central Coast Stadium is 5:35pm.

Mariners vs. City

You’ve got Ross McCormack, Jacob Melling, Jack Clisby and Matt Millar all coming up against their old club whilst Lachie Wales, Rostyn Griffiths and Anthony Caceres make their returns to Central Coast Stadium.

For Mike Mulvey it’s his first Hyundai A-League game calling Central Coast Stadium home, despite plenty of visits as the opposing team.

Despite the storylines, it all gets put to the side when the whistle blows on Saturday afternoon at Gosford’s idyllic bayside arena.

Mulvey in the media

“You’re never entirely happy with a performance but first and foremost our lads put in a real shift last week,” Mulvey said. “We earned our point which was important and I think the fans would have seen that we were there right until the death with some last-ditch tackles, but also some quality going forward.

“What we’ve worked on this week is to keep the ball a bit better, at times we were trying to play a forward pass when it wasn’t really on.

“When you look at the performance in the cold hard light of day, we still gave up too many opportunities but there was that attitude that we weren’t going to let them past. If we can build on that, which I’m sure we will do, I will be very happy.

“This is competition on, these are not friendlies. Once you start the season you have to perform, you have to turn up and the lads last week were very good. This week, it’s made it difficult for us to pick a team because we’ve got other players in the squad who can add a different dimension.

“We’ve reviewed the derby and City are a good side. It’s 11 v 11 on Saturday, we’ve got some former City players in the squad and I’m sure they’ll be ready for the game.

“I’m really excited for the game, this is a great stadium. This is my home now, this is my home stadium and we want to make sure we put on a good show for the fans tomorrow.

“We’re at home, so let’s have a go at them,” Mulvey said.

What’s been said?  

Ross McCormack, Central Coast Mariners
“Sunday we were backs against the wall at times, but team spirit got us through, it got us a point,” McCormack said. “We go into Saturday full of belief, Melbourne City are a good team but are definitely beatable and we will be looking to do that,” McCormack said.

“It’ll be good, I had a good experience last season, the goal I scored broke an A-League record for the quickest guy to 13 goals; that was a good day personally,” McCormack said. “I’m looking forward to getting in front of the home fans it should be a good atmosphere, Melbourne will bring a few fans as well, Saturday should be a good game,” McCormack said.

Squad lists

Central Coast Mariners Provisional Squad: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 3.Jack CLISBY, 4.Jake McGING, 5.Antony GOLEC, 6.Tom HIARIEJ, 8.Michael McGLINCHEY, 10.Tommy OAR, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Adam PEARCE (gk), 13.Aiden O’NEILL, 15.Kye ROWLES, 16.Josh MACDONALD, 18.Matt MILLAR, 19.Matt SIMON (c), 20.Kalifa CISSE, 22.Jacob MELLING, 25.Jordan MURRAY, 44.Ross McCORMACK
***Two to be omitted***

Ins: 16.Josh MACDONALD (promoted), 18.Matt MILLAR (promoted)

Outs: nil

Unavailable: 2.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS (ACL), 7.Andrew HOOLE (foot injury), Corey GAMEIRO (Hamstring)

Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 2.Ritchie De LAET, 3.Scott JAMIESON (c) , 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE, 5.Bart SCHENKEVELD, 7.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 8.Riley MCGREE, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 17.Anthony CACERES, 18.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 19.Lachlan WALES, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 25.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 27.Florin BERENGUER-BOHRER, 39.Anthony LESIOTIS, 51.Idrus ABDULAHI
** two to be omitted **

Ins: 3.Scott JAMIESON (returns fron injury), 10.Dario VIDOSIC (returns from illness)

Out: nil

Unavailable: 6.Osama MALIK (calf), 11.Michael O’HALLORAN (hamstring), 13.Nathaniel ATKINSON (international duty), 36.Dylan PIERIAS (international duty), 42.James DELIANOV (international duty), 21.Ramy NAJJARINE (international duty), 38.Joshua CAVALLO (international duty), 30.Moudi NAJJAR (international duty), 34.Connor METCALFE (international duty)

Opta Stat Attack

  • Melbourne City are undefeated in their last nine matches against Central Coast Mariners, which is their best current undefeated streak against any team in the A-League.
Central Coast Mariners have scored six goals in their last three games against Melbourne City at home; but have not won any of these games (D2, L1).
  • In the last five games played at Central Coast Stadium, the team leading at half-time has gone on to win the match every time.
Melbourne City will be chasing back-to-back away wins for the first time since October 2017, after coming up trumps against Melbourne Victory last weekend.
  • Central Coast Mariners scored just seven goals in the opening 30 minutes last season, the fewest of any team – the Mariners scored their only goal of the match in the 3rd minute last weekend. Only Wellington Phoenix had a lower passing accuracy rate on matchday one than Central Coast Mariners (60.4%).
  • Eugene Galekovic (Melbourne City) made six saves last weekend, the most of any player in the round – last season, he made 13 saves across eight games.

Match Details
Saturday, 27 October 2018
Hyundai A-League Round 2
Match: Central Coast Mariners vs. Melbourne City FC
Tickets: CLICK HERE
Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-off: 5:35pm (AEDT)
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA
Hash-tag: Join the match conversation using #CCMvMCY & #CCMFC

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