After scoring his maiden Hyundai A-League goal in an #F3Derby, Jake McGing says that the physical nature of Sunday’s match won’t impact the team’s preparation for Thursday’s home match against Perth Glory.
Speaking with media after the team’s training session at the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence on Tuesday McGing said he was happy to bag a goal.
“It’s always good to score especially as a defender as it doesn’t happen very often,” McGing said. “To score in any game is great but it’s even better in a derby.
“We always work on our set pieces and we were lucky it paid off for us in Newcastle, I was just trying my best to get to the far post and hoped the ball would fall there and it did so I was happy it fell for me.
“It’s great to score in the #F3Derby, obviously last season I got sent off so that was a bad feeling but this time I can take a really good feeling from it,” McGing said.
“I think the three points definitely could have been ours especially after the way we played in the first half where we could have had three or four goals but in the end it wasn’t a bad result considering we had a man sent off for the last 30 so we did well to hold out.
“We always prepare if we have a man sent off so we dealt with it the way we always have and we were glad to hold onto a result. It was tough for Rosey, he was playing really well but I’m sure he will bounce back.
“I am used to playing alongside Rosey from our days in the youth team, we have a good connection and I think it worked well. He’s a good ball player and did a really good job,” McGing said.
Head Coach Paul Okon is an accomplished central defender and McGing says that has helped to bolster the Yellow & Navy back four whilst also giving plaudits to Mariners’ keeper Paul Izzo who took man of the match plaudits on Sunday.
“Paul Izzo is a great goalkeeper so it doesn’t surprise me that he played so well, after last season he has bounced back and is doing a great job for the team,” McGing said. “This season has been going well, I think we deserve more wins than we have but personally things have been going well.
“The #F3Derby was a physical game but that won’t affect our preparation so we’re looking forward to taking on the Perth Glory.
“Our organisation this season has been a lot better, we’re a lot more compact at the back this season and a more solid defensive unit.
“Paolo has us talking a lot more, we’re getting more feedback and he was a great defender when he was playing so any words of wisdom from him is always taken on board,” McGing said,” McGing said.
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)
Official hash-tags: #CCMvPER & #CCMFC
TV Broadcast: Fox Sports 505
Radio Broadcast: 96.3 Coast FM
