The Central Coast Mariners return to Central Coast Stadium for the first time in over a month for Thursday night football action! Kick-off is 7:50pm.
The Mariners launched a stunning comeback in Perth when they came from three goals down to earn a 3-3 draw against the Glory on the opening weekend of the season in October which makes for a mouthwatering clash in Gosford tonight.
With four points from their last three starts Okon is convinced his side are on the right track and the results will naturally follow.
“Our playing style is evolving, it’s getting better, we’d just like to have a few more wins but again I think everyone can see that when they play the Mariners now it’s game on,” Okon told reporters on Wednesday.
“We’ve been in every game so far this season and we want that to continue.
“Obviously we have a way of football that we want to play and continue playing and ultimately we hope that that will lead us to more wins.”
And on paper this could rain goals.
Glory are the league’s second highest scorers with 15 goals but they have conceded 14 (the equal worst in the league), while the Mariners have shipped 13.
An anomaly in this season’s draw means the Mariners will play just their second home match of the 2016/17 Season in Gosford when they entertain Kenny Lowe’s side.
Spurred on by the support of their travelling fans in last weekend’s F3 Derby, Okon is hopeful there will be another sea of yellow at Central Coast Stadium tonight.
“When the players came out and saw all of our supporters, travelling supporters in yellow jerseys, it does have an effect because in your mind it tells you that the people who are there have travelled to watch you play and you feel just that extra bit of motivation,” said Okon.
“You want to give something to them and that’s what we want at our home games.
“So far this season, the game against the Roar, we had good support and we hope tomorrow night is the same.”
The Mariners will have to overcome a four-day turnaround but Okon is confident his side have pinpointed ways to get past the league’s equal worst defence.
“They know how to win football games so it’s a tough game but there’s no easy games in the A-League, especially after a four-day turnaround,” said Okon.
“We’re aware of their threats, but we see areas where we can hurt them.
“Whether or not we can expose them and actually do that is something we’ll find out tomorrow [Thursday] night,” Okon said.
Central Coast Mariners Provisional Squad: 1.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 5.Harry ASCROFT, 6.Blake POWELL, 7.Fabio FERREIRA, 8.Nick MONTGOMERY (c), 9.Roy O”DONOVAN, 10.Mickael TAVARES, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 13.Kwabena APPIAH, 14.Adam BERRY, 17.Josh BINGHAM, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 21.Michael NEILL, 22.Jake McGING, 24.Reece PAPADIMITRIOS
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 3.Scott GALLOWAY (return from injury), 13.Kwabena APPIAH (promoted), 24.Reece PAPADIMITRIOS (promoted)
Outs: 16.Liam ROSE (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: 23.Jake Adelson (ACL – indefinite), 4.Jacob POSCOLIERO (quad strain – 1 week), 19.Jacques FATY (knee injury – 1 week).
Perth Glory Provisional Squad: 2.Alex GRANT, 4.Shane LOWRY, 5.Rhys WILLIAMS, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 8.Rostyn GRIFFITHS (c), 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 13.Nicholas FEELY (gk), 14.Chris HAROLD, 16.Joe MILLS, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 19.Josh RISDON, 22.Adam TAGGART, 23.Kosta PETRATOS, 24.Milan SMILJANIC, 33.Liam REDDY (gk)
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 6.Dino DJULBIC (promoted), 7.Joel CHIANESE (return from injury), 18.Mitch OXBORROW (promoted)
Outs: 15.Brandon WILSON (not selected) Unavailable: Nil
Match Details
Hyundai A-League 2016/17 – Round 8
Thursday 24 November 2016
Central Coast Mariners vs. Perth Glory
Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
kick-off: 7:50pm (AEDT)
Tickets: CLICK HERE
Official hash-tags: #CCMvPER & #CCMFC
TV Broadcast: Fox Sports 505
Radio Broadcast: 96.3 Coast FM
