The Central Coast Mariners are eyeing off three games in eight days and Connor Pain says it could be exactly what the Mariners need to make a run up the Hyundai A-League table.
Pain started the Mariners’ hit out against Sydney FC in the best possible way, with a goal in the 17th minute. Although the 25-year-old attacker says that the key to success is sustaining that level of intensity for a full 90 minutes.
The Mariners face Wellington on Saturday in Wellington, followed by back-to-back home games against Melbourne City (Wed 16 Jan) and Brisbane Roar (Sun 20 Jan) at Central Coast Stadium.
RECAP | Pain cuts in beautifully from the left, beats two defenders and slams his left-footer past Redmayne! ?? @FOXFOOTBALL #SYDvCCM #CCMFC #ALeague pic.twitter.com/IIdARBMfiR
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) January 4, 2019
CLICK HERE to view Connor Pain’s full press conference
Positives to take from the Sydney game…
“We can take a little bit of confidence from that game but it was really disappointing to play most of the game with 10 men – we will never really know how that game could have ended up. At the same time, we didn’t win, we didn’t get any points so we need to soldier on with an aim to take points from Wellington on Saturday.
Message from Mike Mulvey…
“The message is to keep going. In that opening 30 minutes it was some of the best football we’ve played – which you take some positives from. The best thing about this time of the season is that games come thick and fast, we can get over a loss like that. Then get home from Wellington and face back-to-back home games.
Team morale…
“That’s one thing that has never been in question, one thing we can hold our heads high and say we have a great bunch of boys who all fight for each other. We all get around each other all the time and we will be heading to Wellington looking to win.
“You have to belief. When you get to this level, if you don’t back yourself things won’t work. When we go a goal down as a team we need to keep our heads in it, keep fighting and know we can work our way back into the game.
CONFIRMED! Two of our rising stars in Jade McAtamney & @Michael_Glasso will be running our Mighty Mariners School Holiday Clinics between January 14 – 16!
Places are still available ℹ️ https://t.co/eAAB6UiM7U pic.twitter.com/qkS4SJhmbF
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) January 3, 2019
The key to turning things around…
“Whether it’s individual decisions, lack of focus, it’s all about putting those great moments together that we’ve shown in games. Putting that complete 90 minutes together. All of the best teams do that, then they come back to haunt you when you switch off. We need to turn a first half performance into a 90-minute performance then we should be fine.
Our opponents, Wellington Phoenix…
“We’re just about to go in and do some video analysis of them – but we take what we did to Sydney in the opening 30 minutes as a blue print for what we can do this week. We’re obviously hoping to keep everyone on the park, put them under immense pressure and we will go right after Wellington,” Pain said.
Match Details
Saturday, 12 January 2019
Hyundai A-League Round 12
Match: Wellington Phoenix vs. Central Coast Mariners
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 5:35pm (AEDT)
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA
Hash-tag: Join the match conversation using #WELvCCM & #CCMFC
