The job of luring Charlie Miller to the Gold Coast was made a little easier for owner Clive Palmer after United grabbed a gutsy 2-1 A-League win over Central Coast Mariners on Saturday night.
Miller was spotted sitting next to Palmer at Skilled Park before the match – and he would have left impressed following the Gold Coast’s come from behind win over the high flying Mariners.
Miller was initially linked to North Queensland Fury when he sensationally walked out on the Roar on Friday after coach Ange Postecoglou could not promise him a future in Brisbane beyond this season.
But United may yet be frontrunners for his signature after keeping alive their hopes of a top two finish with their first win in three weeks.
Once the championship favourites, the up-start newcomers were in danger of dropping out of the top four for the first time due to a lean run that included just three wins in their last 11 games.
However, United found themselves back in the winner’s circle after goals by Kiwi marksman Shane Smeltz – his 12th of the season – and youngster Andrew Barisic cancelled out Matt Simon’s first half effort.
The Mariners had been sailing along nicely ahead of the United clash, enjoying an unbeaten run of four games.
And they looked like extending that when Simon, making his starting return since recovering from a back injury, certainly proved his fitness in the 39th minute.
Latching onto a Nicky Travis cross, Simon’s diving header proved too good for an exasperated Jess van Stratten.
The 4,117-strong Coast faithful finally had something to cheer about when Smeltz’s header converted Barisic’s cross in the 68th minute.
But cheers turned to jeers in the 72nd minute when Smeltz was denied a goal after being deemed off-side – although replays showed the decision was dubious.
Barisic – recalled for just his second game after scoring seven goals in as many National Youth League games – was in the thick of the action again before Smeltz was denied.
But Barisic had the last laugh in the 76th minute when he pounced on captain Jason Culina’s ricocheted shot off keeper Andrew Redmayne.
United were desperate to make a statement on Saturday night, keen to capitalise on a great run in which they play their next four out of five games at home.
Gold Coast rebounded well from their last round 4-0 mauling at Melbourne and also enjoyed a bit of payback following their 3-0 defeat at Gosford in their last meeting with the Mariners.
Culina admitted it was “devastating” to trail 1-0 at halftime despite dominating the first stanza.
“The score wasn’t a true reflection of the game, that’s what hurt the most,” he said.
“I didn’t really know what to say at half-time, except get a little bit upset and try and psyche the boys up.
“I said before the game we need to start stringing a few wins together because after Newcastle (next round) we have three games at home – the next few weeks are huge for us.
“But the team showed great character.”
Culina and coach Miron Bleiberg had special praise for Barisic.
The super sub was inspirational in the second half, opening up a Mariners defence that had conceded just nine goals all season ahead of the Saturday night clash.
But Bleiberg was uncharacteristically coy when asked about his masterstroke of bringing on Barisic.
“It worked. Either I am a good coach or I am lucky,” he smiled.
Bleiberg was more forthcoming when asked about Smeltz having a goal denied due to off-side.
“From what I saw on the replay, it wasn’t an offside,” he said.
“But those are the types of wins that give you a lot of encouragement – they build character and guts.”
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