Following last weekend’s tight 2-1 defeat away from home at the hands of Wellington Phoenix, the Mariners are back in action in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s competition this Saturday against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Currently sitting in second, two points ahead of the Wanderers, the match acts as the perfect opportunity to extend out lead over the chasing pack.
Team News
The Central Coast Mariners have made just one change to their matchday squad, with Beni Nkololo missing the match due to suspension.
The forward picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Wellington, with the Frenchman replaced by James Bayliss in the squad.
Jason Cummings is in the match-day squad after missing last week’s match, with the striker eager to be available on Saturday.
Western Sydney have made three changes to the side who took a point off Newcastle last Sunday, with Alex Badoalto not selected this week after appearing off the bench last weekend.
Kusini Yengi, Milos Ninkovic and Tom Beadling all join the side, with Ninkovic returning after missing six matches due to injury. Yengi is reportedly ‘touch and go’ to feature on Saturday.
Recent Form
The Mariners have had a pleasing run of form of late, winning six of our last eight matches in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s competition.
The side’s defeat against Wellington last Sunday was out first of the year, with the Mariners winning three games in a row before that.
Our trip to New Zealand was the definition of a game of two halves, with Wellington deservedly taking a lead into the break after our slow start. Coming out after the break the Mariners begun to take control, dominating much of the second 45 minutes.
A late Beni Nkololo goal wasn’t enough as we fell to the 2-1 defeat, with the side looking to take the pleasing second half performance into this Saturday’s match.
Since returning from the World Cup break the Wanderers have struggled to recapture their early season form, winning one of their past seven games.
This stretch has included four 1-all draws including against Melbourne City, while their victory came against Macarthur.
Western Sydney dominated patches of their game against Newcastle last weekend, with an Oli Bozanic penalty in the 64th minute drawing them level. They were unable to find a winner, having to settle for the point.
Previous Meetings
The Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney have had a long history against each other, the most famous match being our 2-0 grand final win 10 years ago.
Of the 14 games between the two sides at Industree Group Stadium the Mariners have won four times, with another two draws. We have been victorious in eight of the 31 total fixtures, along with nine draws.
Of late it has been the Mariners who have been the more successful of the pair, currently on a four-match undefeated streak against the Wanderers.
This includes our dominant 3-0 victory at Commbank Stadium earlier this season, handing the Wanderers their first defeat of the campaign.
Despite dominating the first half we were unable to score our first until a quickfire Michael Ruhs double gave us the stronghold on the match, with a Sammy Silvera goal sealing the result.
Squads
Central Coast Mariners
2. Thomas AQUILINA, 3. Brian KALTAK, 4. Joshua NISBET, 6. Maximilien BALARD, 7. Samuel SILVERA, 9. Jason CUMMINGS, 13. Harrison STEELE, 15. Storm ROUX, 18. Jacob FARRELL, 20. Daniel VUKOVIC (c) (gk), 21. Michael RUHS, 22. Cameron Windust 23. Daniel HALL, 24. Yaren SOZER (gk), 25. Nectarios TRIANTIS, 27. Sasha KUZEVSKI, 28. James Bayliss, 31. Christian THEOHAROUS, 90. Paul AYONGO, 98. MARCO TULIO
Ins: 28. James Bayliss
Outs: 11. Beni Nkololo (suspension)
Unavailable: 10. Matheus MORESCHE (injured), 26. Bradley TAPP (injured)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC
1.Daniel MARGUSH (GK), 2.Gabriel CLEUR, 3.Adama TRAORE, 5.Tomi MRCELA, 6.Marcelo (C), 7.Ramy NAJJARINE, 8.Oliver BOZANIC, 9.Kusini YENGI, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Sulejman KRPIC, 16.Tom BEADLING, 17.Romain AMALFITANO, 19.Daniel WILMERING, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (GK), 23.Yeni NGBAKOTO, 26.Brandon BORRELLO, 28.Calem NIEUWENHOF, 31.Aidan SIMMONS, 33.Alex BONETIG, 36.Alessandro LOPANE
Ins: 9.Kusini YENGI (promoted), 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 16.Tom BEADLING (promoted)
Outs: 37.Alex BADOALTO (not selected)
MATCH DETAILS
Central Coast Mariners vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Saturday, January 28th
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEDT
Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live on 10Bold and Paramount+
Get tickets HERE!
