Central Coast coach Lawrie McKinna says the Mariners have become used to being written off but insists they can be A-League title contenders once again after their strong start to the season.
The Mariners produced the shock of the opening round by downing Melbourne Victory 2-0 at Etihad Stadium last Thursday with a smart display of disciplined, counter-attacking football.
Few had given the Gosford-based side a chance against the reigning champions, while many had tipped them to struggle in the expanded competition.
But McKinna said he never doubted his side, one of the most consistent since the inception of the A-League, could be among the title contenders this season.
“Every year they write us off,” McKinna said.
“It’s not changed in four years, so we’re not really worried about it, people can say what they want.
“This is as good a squad, if not better, than we’ve had and with a bit more depth.
“There’s no reason why we can’t get to the finals and get to another grand final.”
In four years of the A-League, Central Coast have only missed the finals series once.
In 2007/08 they lost to Newcastle in the grand final, while last year they were knocked out of the finals by Queensland in what proved to be the early stages of a winless streak that stretched through the Asian Champions League and right up until last week.
McKinna said it was a relief to finally break the slump, which ran 11 competitive matches.
“We weren’t focused on that, it was more about getting a win or a draw, but the fact is that’s gone now as well,” McKinna said.
“We’re not going to hear that negative stuff about how we’ve not won a game anymore.
“That quashes all that so we can just focus on the positives.”
The Mariners now turn their attention to Friday night’s `F3 derby’ with local rivals Newcastle, who are coming off a 3-2 win over Wellington Phoenix on Sunday.
“The boys are over the moon with (last week’s) result but it goes out the window if we don’t get the result against the Jets,” McKinna said.
Central defender Chris Doig, one of the Mariners’ new recruits who impressed against the Victory, is in doubt for the match with a calf strain.
“Hopefully he’ll be training by Wednesday … he’s the only question mark at the moment,” McKinna said.
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