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On October 30 last year, Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson watched on helplessly as his newly-acquired A-League side were humiliated 5-0 by Central Coast in Gosford.
On Saturday night – almost a year on from that capitulation – Ferguson will have the chance to gain a slice of revenge when the two teams meet at Bluetongue Stadium.
Central Coast came within an inch of snaring the title last season.
But after collecting just one point from three games to start this season, Graham Arnold’s charges are under pressure to regain their winning mojo.
In contrast, Perth sit equal top of the pile, and have the chance to make it a club record four A-League wins on the trot when they confront the Mariners.
Ferguson isn’t one to dwell too heavily on past failures, but the former Rangers star also knows it’s important to learn lessons from those disappointments.
In nine trips to Bluetongue Stadium, the Glory have come away with just one draw and eight losses.
But with his new-look side oozing confidence following three straight wins to start the season, Ferguson isn’t expecting another capitulation like the one seen a year ago.
“We did go there last year and we did get beat ridiculously. These are painful reminders,” Ferguson said on Thursday.
“We’ll try to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
“I don’t like dwelling too much on the past, but we’ve got to keep our feet grounded and we’ve got to bring these things up.
“If we don’t learn anything from last year, then we shouldn’t be here.
“The great thing for us at the moment we’ve played three and won three, so confidence is high in the camp and long may that continue.”
Former Socceroos striker Mile Sterjovski is set to again miss out on selection despite being named as part of a 20-man squad for the two-game trip against Central Coast and Newcastle.
With Ferguson set to make few – if any – changes to his senior side, 32-year-old Sterjovski is likely to again feature for the Glory Youth team.
“I don’t like sending players like that to youth team, but it’s the only way I can get them fit and keep them fit when opportunities come,” Ferguson said.
“Mile’s opportunity will come.
“There’s another 10 players out there that are not playing either.
“Everybody’s in the same boat.
“It’s not just because Mile is an ex-Socceroo or marquee player, everybody’s in the same boat where they need to try and compete and do well when they get their opportunity and if he does that then Mile will stay in.”
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