It’s #EraseRacism round and Perth Glory will be hoping to get back to the winners circle when they take on the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Sunday.
Join The Roar from 3.00pm (AEDT) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
After a season that most fans would rather forget, the Central Coast Mariners have shown some improvement in the last three weeks under interim coach Tony Walmsley. Gone is the one-dimensional game plan the Mariners deployed sacked coach Phil Moss, replaced with a high-tempo pressing game that nearly caught out Adelaide last week.
One of the positives to come out of the loss to Adelaide was Walmsley’s decision to tweak the Mariners structure which saw Nick Fitzgerald play as a second 10 next to the in-form Anthony Caceres.
Under Moss, Fitzgerald has struggled as a lone striker this season but Walmsley’s decision to have Fitzgerald drop off the front line allows the youngster to exploit one of his greatest assets, his speed, and it nearly paid dividends against the Reds.
The Mariners’ formation change won’t have been lost on Kenny Lowe, and it will be interesting to see how the Glory’s centre-halves Michael Thwaite and Dino Djulbic handle the blistering speed of the young striker and that of ex-Adelaide man Fabio Ferriera.
The last time these two sides met, Perth prevailed 4-1 however since that game in December, the Glory have only won one game and dropped to fourth.
Regardless of the horror run that includes eight weeks without a win, Kenny Lowe is adamant his team can regroup and refocus and find the form they displayed in the first half of the season.
It’s hard to work out where it all went wrong for Lowe’s men who were cruising leading up to Christmas. But the Asian Cup break hasn’t been kind to the Glory who are lacking conviction and seem a side bereft of ideas.
For the Mariners, keep your eye on Isaka Cernak who has played with plenty of promise but not much reward since the new year, today could just be his day. For Perth, with charges dropped against Andy Keogh after his night out in Adelaide, the Irishman will be looking to put himself back in the frame for this year’s golden boot.
An improving Mariners against a Glory side on the slide makes for an entertaining clash on what’s been billed as Superhero Sunday in Gosford.
So will the hometown (Super)heroes claim victory for their supporters or will the dastardly Glory boys from the West steal all three points?
Join The Roar from 3.00pm (AEDT) for live score updates and debate in our live blog to find out.
billyelliott
Roar Guru
Well you have to say that a draw is a just result as neither side was able to control the game. Glory looked set to return to the summit of the league and deliver the Glory's first three points after MacLaren broke the deadlock with 10 minutes to go but the Mariners had all the pressure in injury time and were well rewarded with a point when Nick Montgomery stepped up and fired home from 23 yards out. An exciting finish to an otherwise dour game and Glory remain without a win in nine weeks while the draw all but ends the Mariners slim finals chances. Off the Brisbane now where the Phoenix will finish the round on top of the table regardless of the result. Till next time.
billyelliott
Roar Guru
90+4' Last minute ... Djulbic comes streaming out of defence, he tries to roll it in Keogh but he overhits it. That's it ... Ben Williams blows full time. CCM 1 1 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
Mariners enjoyed a good passage of play there. The cross came in from the left and they were appealing for a penalty after it looked like Morton was shoved from behind. Thwaite and Garcia stumbled over the clearance which found Montgomery on the edge of the area and he just got right behind it leaving Duncan with no chance. Great goal. Mariners look headed for a well deserved point. CCM 1 1 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
90+2' Wow Montgomery with an absolute screamer CCM 1 1 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
90' We're going to see four minutes of added time. Time enough for the Mariners to equalise? CCM 0 1 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
89' Thwaite goes over the top of Major inside the box but no foul according to Williams. Perth holding on to this slender lead. CCM 0 1 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
87' Mariners are pushing for an equaliser but Perth have well and truly parked the bus. CCM 0 1 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
85' Caceres given a little space and tries to find Fitzgerald but gives it a little too much and Perth will have a goal kick. Change for the Mariners - Hutchinson replaced by Major Change also for the Glory - Marinkovic replaced by Griffiths. CCM 0 1 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
84' Nice backheel from Fitzgerald but Caceres shot is delfected. Mariners have a corner but Anderson can't get his header on goal. CCM 0 1 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
81' Mariners look to hit back but Mat Sim unable to direct his shot goalward. CCM 0 1 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
80' Kalik showing his inexperience there, letting Maclaren getting in front of him at that corner. CCM 0 1 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
79' GOAL for GLORY. Maclaren steers home the header from a Marinkovic corner. The striker gets in front of his marker and Reddy and directs the corner into the back of the net. CCM 0 1 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
77' Another poor decision lets the Glory down. Paljic was streaming forward but his ball to Maclaren was overhit and the Mariners have a throw-in. CCM 0 0 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
76' Anderson slips and Maclaren with half a chance but Reddy comes and clears well. CCM 0 0 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
72' Zadkovich gives away a professional foul just inside the Glory half and earns a yellow card. Montgomery was away there and Zadkovich dragged the Englishman back. Perth forced into another change - Nicholls replaced by Paljic. CCM 0 0 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
69' Cernak is replaced by Kalik for the Mariners. CCM 0 0 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
68' Garcia tries to belie his age and show a trick or two but he's unable to control it and the Mariners have a goal kick. CCM 0 0 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
67' Perth lining up to break the dead lock. Maclaren setting up Marinkovic who can't control his shot. CCM 0 0 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
66' Jamieson continues to justify his selection in the most frustrating players of the A League list by winning a foul and then earning a talking to from Williams for his incessant back chat. CCM 0 0 PER
billyelliott
Roar Guru
64' Cernak gets a flying roundhouse kick to the throat courtesy of Dino Djulbic. Surely he should have seen his second yellow for that ridiculous challenge. Williams says nothing doing and play continues. Suspect there will be more cards this afternoon. CCM 0 0 PER