Mariners head coach Nick Montgomery was pleased with Saturday night’s performance against Adelaide and is keen to continue our good run of form against Macarthur FC on Friday night at Campbelltown Stadium.
Looking back at last weekend our head coach is extremely happy with the result, especially against a top side like Adelaide.
“Adelaide is a very good team who sit just below us on the table. To put on an impressive performance like that, I thought we dominated the game from start to finish,” he said.
“I am really happy with the performance; we could have been more ruthless towards the end which is probably the only disappointing thing. Three points and a clean sheet for Vuka and the back four who deserved it was really pleasing.”
The result pushes the Mariners into second place on the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder, only behind current league leaders Melbourne City. This includes a four-game home win streak, while we are undefeated away from home against everyone except City.
Despite our position on the ladder, Montgomery is not too focused on it just yet, rather turning his eyes to our performances and upcoming fixtures.
“I don’t really take much notice of where we are sitting. All I look at is the next game, and that is Macarthur on Friday night. It ultimately doesn’t matter where you sit now, it is where you are at the end of the season,” he said.
“Right now, I think we are where we deserve to be and that is because the boys have put a lot of effort in. We have put on some good performances but looking back on the season now, I think we should have had more points on the board.
“We will try and win every game, home and away, and that’ll never change.”
Looking ahead to this weekend, Montgomery knows the challenge that the side faces. Macarthur were able to take all three points when they faced us in November at Industree Group Stadium, coming away with a late winner against the run of play.
“We went down to ten men from what I still think was a really harsh sending off for Brian. It put us down a man early and we gave away two cheap goals, but we did bring it back to two-all with 10 men,” he said.
“We should have gone on and won that game and instead we got caught with a sucker punch in the final minute. Full credit to Macarthur, and I think that Dwight Yorke has done a fantastic job since he arrived.
“I don’t think anyone can disrespect what he has done, he is a Premier League and Manchester United legend who has played in teams who know how to win games. He has definitely instilled that in Macarthur.”
Montgomery is pleased with the way that the squad has been working together over the past few weeks, as well as the depth that we possess. This can be seen with the rotation of the squad and the ability of everyone to perform when needed.
“We have a great group of players who are fully behind each other. On the weekend Storm, who has probably been the best player over the last couple of weeks, fell sick just before the game. Him and Dan Hall with a stomach bug and Tommy Aquilina comes in and I thought that he was outstanding,” he said.
“All of the boys that come on, all the boys that start, the most important thing is that they back each other and support each other. I think you can see that in the camaraderie in the team.”
The Mariners travel to Macarthur on Friday, looking to secure an important three points before a trip across the ditch next weekend to face Wellington Phoenix.
