MAGNIFICENT Mariners midfielder Michael McGlinchey said Central Coast is looking to bounce back immediately following their 1-1 draw against Wellington Phoenix on Saturday when they play Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Thursday.
Michael McGlinchey
MAGNIFICENT Mariners midfielder Michael McGlinchey said Central Coast is looking to bounce back immediately following their 1-1 draw against Wellington Phoenix on Saturday when they play Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Thursday.
McGlinchey told media on Boxing Day that clean sheets are at the top of the Mariners- priority list, and that the side was collectively disappointed to concede Dani Sanchez-s late leveller at Westpac Stadium.
“It-s disappointing that we switched off in the last 15 minutes (against Phoenix),” McGlinchey said. “We pride ourselves on keeping clean sheets.”
“We let that one go but we-ll try and bounce back and get the win in Sydney.”
New Zealand international McGlinchey has been in sparkling form again this season, and has scored in two of his last four meetings with the Sky Blues.
Indeed, the former Glasgow Celtic man lashed home a stunning left foot finish when the Mariners crushed Sydney FC 7-2 in earlier November, and netted in the yellow and navy’s 3-2 win at the SFS last year.
“I am sure they (Sydney) will be looking to get some revenge from the last game,” he said. “We-ll go down with the same game plan and hopefully keep a clean sheet. Hopefully our quality shines through.”
The first-placed Mariners will be confident of dictating terms against Frank Farina-s cellar-dwellers, but having watched Sydney number 10 Alessandro Del Piero on television, McGlinchey knows his team will need to be alert to the threat posed by the Italian legend.
“He-s a quality player,” the ex-Motherwell midfielder said of the former Juventus creative. “Just watching the game the other day against Newcastle, he-s still got that clever pass that can find players. We-re going to have to be careful of his qualities.”
McGlinchey said despite the Mariners- delay in returning home from the land of the long white cloud due to fog postponing numerous flights out of the Kiwi capital at the weekend, Central Coast would have no trouble being ready for the contest.
“Andrew Clark has the boys all tuned in to what we need to do and eat to recover,” he said. “Three days is good enough to be back playing.”
“We-ll be fresh.”
Sydney FC vs. Central Coast Mariners – Hyundai A-League Round 13
Thursday 27 December, 2012
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 7:30pm
Twitter: Join the match conversation on Twitter. The official hash-tag is #SYDvCCM
Transport: Thanks to Coastal Liner, Central Coast Mariners will run official supporter buses to the match. CLICK HERE to book your seat today!
