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Front-runners Queensland Roar have savaged Central Coast’s “desperate” sledging as cheap talk ahead of their sudden-death A-League play-off.
Roar defender Andrew Packer took aim at the Mariners after Central Coast duo Dylan Macallister and John Hutchinson raised Queensland’s ire with combative comments before Friday night’s clash.
Trailing 2-0 in the two-leg, minor semi-final after an opening defeat in Gosford, Macallister labelled Roar hardman Danny Tiatto dangerous while Hutchinson said they would hunt in packs to “kick” the life out of the Roar at Suncorp Stadium.
An affronted Packer said talk was cheap ahead of what looms as a explosive high-stakes contest.
“It just goes to show how desperate they are and the lengths they’ll go to to try and get to the next round,” he said.
“But we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“It sure as hell doesn’t bother us. Talk’s cheap.
“Everything happens on the pitch and that’s what we’re thinking about.”
A member of the Sydney FC team which won the inaugural A-League title in 2005-06, the seasoned Packer reserved most of his contempt for Macallister.
The Mariners striker attacked Tiatto’s aggressive game and tackling style and said the former Socceroos and Manchester City midfielder’s reaction to his first-leg red-card was “extreme”.
“As a professional footballer you don’t do that sort of stuff,” Packer said on Wednesday.
“You leave everything on the park. You sure as hell don’t make comments about someone’s professionalism, (particularly) someone who has played in the best league in the world for 10 years.
“So it’s very disappointing from his point of view. He (Macallister) needs to have a look at himself and sort himself out before he goes taking a look at Danny.”
The versatile Packer, who will line up at left back on Friday night, believed the frustrated Mariners were firing darts.
Hutchinson indicated the out-of-form Coast would revert to hunting in packs with up to “four people kicking one person”.
“The referee will deal with that if they’re going to come out and kick us,” Packer said.
“It’s finals football … the ref will pick up that sort of thing quickly I’m sure.”
The Mariners need to score at least three goals to stage a remarkable resurrection against the red-hot Roar, who have won six and drawn one of their last eight matches.
The visitors could spy an opening with veteran Queensland defender Josh McCloughan (groin) out for the season and skipper Craig Moore returning late from international duty.
But Packer confidently declared himself, Luke DeVere and Hyuk-Su Seo were up for the challenge to defuse Macallister, Matt Simon, Nik Mrdja and Sasho Petrovski.
“We’re confident,” he said. “Sure we’ll miss a couple of guys at the back but we’ve got guys like Luke and Hyuk who can step in and do a really good job for us.”
Roar coach Frank Farina is again expected to keep import of the year Charlie Miller on the bench and use him as a second-half impact weapon.
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