Central Coast Mariners’ preparations for their Hyundai A-League round 26 clash with Perth Glory at nib Stadium on Saturday night took an unexpected twist on Friday afternoon, with the team’s plane to the Western Australian capital having to make an unplanned stop in Adelaide.
Central Coast Mariners- preparations for their Hyundai A-League round 26 clash with Perth Glory at nib Stadium on Saturday night took an unexpected twist on Friday afternoon, with the team-s plane to the Western Australian capital having to make an unplanned stop in Adelaide.
Just before 6:00pm (AEDT) on Friday afternoon the Mariners recommenced their journey to Perth after their initial flight was diverted to the city of churches due to a warning light indicating that there was smoke in the cargo hold.
The Central Coast squad spent over four hours playing the waiting game at Adelaide Airport however are now back en route to Perth.
Just before boarding the team-s connection from South to Western Australia, Central Coast Mariners Head Coach Phil Moss said that the unanticipated detour to Adelaide would not impact on his side-s fortunes against the purple-whites.
“If anything I think today-s experience will have a positive impact on our performance tomorrow,” Moss said. “Every time a hurdle is put up in our way we find a way to get over it.”
“I think this experience will galvanise the squad for tomorrow-s game, because the more experiences we go through together the tighter we get.”
Moss also commended the staff onboard the Qantas flight that landed in Adelaide.
“Everything was handled magnificently well by the Qantas staff,” he said. “Their crew kept everyone calm and they didn-t overdramatise anything. They were cool, calm, collected and in control.”
Earlier in the week Moss said his men were highly motivated for Saturday-s encounter against Glory, with his team fighting for second spot on the Hyundai A-League ladder with Western Sydney Wanderers, Melbourne Victory, and Adelaide United.
“They-re [Perth Glory] fighting to avoid the wooden spoon and we-re fighting for second spot so we-ve both got something very large to fight for,” he said. “There is huge motivation in the game, but we-ve got to go over there and show what a good side we are. The best sides in any league around the world put the bottom sides away, and that-s our motivation this week.”
And Moss believes his side will only get stronger as the 2013/14 domestic season and 2014 AFC Champions League Group Stage reach their respective climaxes.
“Fatigue is not a consideration at all,” he explained. “We-ve been able to rotate the squad really well, and everyone has got pretty balanced match minutes at the moment.”
“The toughest thing for me at the moment is leaving players out of the starting eleven and leaving them out of the squad because everyone deserves to play.”
“I can only see us getting physically stronger,” he said.
The Mariners- clash with Perth Glory kicks off at 6:30pm (9:30pm AEDT) on Saturday night, with the game to be shown live and exclusive on Fox Sports 2 & 2HD.
Central Coast Mariners Squad vs. Perth Glory: 1. Justin Pasfield (Gk), 3. Joshua Rose, 5. Zac Anderson, 6. Brent Griffiths, 7. John Hutchinson (C), 8. Nick Montgomery, 9. Mitchell Duke, 11. Nick Fitzgerald, 12. Liam Reddy (Gk), 15. Storm Roux, 17. Anthony Caceres, 19. Matt Simon, 20. Bernie Ibini, 21. Mile Sterjovski, 25. Eddy Bosnar, 26. Kim Seung-yong, 28. Glen Trifiro *one to be omitted*
In: 28. Glen Trifiro (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 10. Marcos Flores (knee – season), 14. Michael McGlinchey (on loan – Vegalta Sendai), 18. Michael Neill (knee – season), 23. Adam Kwasnik (knee – season)
Perth Glory FC vs. Central Coast Mariners FC – Hyundai A-League Round 26
Saturday 5 April 2014
nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 6:30pm (local); 9:30pm (AEDT)
Twitter: Join the match conversation on Twitter using #PERvCCM
Television: Watch the match LIVE on FOX SPORTS 2 & 2HD
