The Mariners are back in action and looking for a third win in a row when they host Perth at Central Coast Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The two sides met only 12 days ago in the West, with the Mariners prevailing 2-1 thank to goals from Matt Simon and Marco Urena and a big second half defensive effort.
Perth were then beaten by Wellington 3-0 in Wollongong, while the Mariners built off their win with a 2-0 victory against Macarthur in Pink Round on Monday night.
That put the Yellow & Navy seven points clear and a win here would see them continue to build on that lead as the half way mark of the season approaches.
Staj welcomes back Gianni Stensness to the squad this week after he missed the previous three matches with a foot injury, and whether he starts or comes off the bench he will provide valuable strength and tackling in the middle against the likes of Neil Kilkenny and Diego Castro.
Friday was two years since Staj and Nahuel Arrarte took the reins at the Mariners as interim coaches, and the boss spoke positively of his time here so far and where the club is at.
The boss is calling for a big crowd tomorrow when we take on the Glory! #CCMFC #WontBackDown
Get your #CCMvPER tix ?? https://t.co/DTGosfRgMQ pic.twitter.com/Cu8f7L1fVr
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) March 13, 2021
“Two years now and I feel like I’ve been here a long time, but when I reflect back on where I was personally and where the club was two years ago I think we’ve come a long way,” he said.
“[We have] reestablished the club as an important member of the A-League and we’ve got good foundations now throughout the club both at A-League level and down the youth system as well.”
“We’re really happy with where we are at and really happy how we have built the club collectively with everyone, going from the CEO to the admin staff to the football staff and everyone who is involved I think we’ve done a pretty good job over that period.”
Staj finished his media with a call to arms for Mariners fans, imploring the Coast to get a big crowd to the game to support his team as they look to tighten their grip on first spot.
“Yeah look they [Perth] are a top team but I’m just hoping to get a big crowd out there,” he said.
“I think the boys deserve it, and the crowds we have been getting have been so emotional and engaged in the game and heading around that 5,000 mark but I think the lads would get a tremendous boost if we could get 7,500 or 8,000 or even 10,000 out to the game. “
“I think we’ve earned it.”
“I think we deserve it. We’ve shown trust in the community and I think it’s time the community comes out and really supports the boys in big numbers.”
BE SURE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE AHEAD OF TODAY’S MATCH!
Seating Update |
Please remember that if you purchase a General Admission ticket to today’s match, you will not be permitted to to relocate to reserved seating areas in the event of rain.
Squads |
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 4.Joshua NISBET, 5.Stefan NIGRO, 6. Gianni STENSNESS 8.Oliver BOZANIC (c), 10.Daniel DE SILVA, 11.Jack CLISBY, 12.Marcos UREÑA, 14.Daniel BOUMAN, 15.Kye ROWLES, 19.Matt SIMON, 20.Adam PEARCE (gk), 21.Ruon TONGYIK, 22.Michal JANOTA, 23.Dan HALL, 25. Matthew HATCH, 26.Jaden CASELLA, 29.Alou KUOL, 32.Max BALARD
**1-3 to be omitted**
Ins: 6. Gianni STENSNESS (Return from Injury)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Perth Glory squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 5.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 6.Osama MALIK, 8.Kosuke OTA, 9.Bruno FORNAROLI, 10.Andy KEOGH, 13.Luke BODNAR, 15.Brandon WILSON, 16.Nick SULLIVAN, 17.Diego CASTRO (C), 19.Callum TIMMINS, 18.Nick D’AGOSTINO, 20.Carlo ARMIENTO, 22.Josh RAWLINS, 23.Dane INGHAM, 24.Daniel STYNES, 29.Darryl LACHMAN, 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 38.Ciaran BRAMWELL, 88.Neil KILKENNY
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 19.Callum TIMMINS (promoted), 38.Ciaran BRAMWELL (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 7.Chris IKONOMIDIS (knee – 2-3 weeks), 34.Mason TATAFU (ankle – 1-2 weeks)
Match Details |
Sunday, 14 March 2021
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Kick-Off: 4:05 pm (Local)(4:05 pm (AEDT))
Referee: Kurts Ams
Assistant Referee 1: Ryan Gallagher
Assistant Referee 2: James Cleal
Fourth Official: Stephen Lucas
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 4:00pm (AEDT), Sky Sport 7 (New Zealand), Kayo Sports (www.kayosports.com.au) and MyFootball Live App, Live Fast and Data Free for Telstra mobile customers
Radio Broadcast: COAST FM 96.3
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #CCMvPER
To purchase tickets visit www.a-league.com.au/tickets
