The Central Coast Mariners will be without banned striker Roy O’Donovan when they host Melbourne Victory on Friday night. Join The Roar for live scores from the game starting at 7:40pm AEDT.
O’Donovan was banned for eight weeks – the equal-second-longest ban in A-League history – for a headbutt on Wellington Phoenix’s Manny Muscat, leaving the Mariners without one of the central pieces of their attack.
That will make it all the more difficult for them to secure what would be a significant win as the bottom-placed side looks to make up some ground on the rest of the competition.
Even a win would not lift the Mariners off the bottom of the table as they currently find themselves four points behind Perth Glory in ninth. But, unless they want to finish the season with the wooden spoon in hand, they will have to start winning sometime.
They took their second success of the year, a 3-1 victory over the Phoenix, last week, and will look to continue that trend.
Victory are coming off what they hope will prove to have been a circuit-breaking 1-0 win over the Newcastle Jets last week.
They had gone five matches without a win in the lead-up to that, dropping from first to fifth on the table, where they currently sit.
The win over the Jets wasn’t pretty, but sometimes a win no matter how ugly is just what a team needs to break a bad run of play and get back on track. Victory will be hoping that’s the case here, as they look to secure their finals spot.
They have a handy buffer over the sixth-placed Wellington Phoenix at the moment, and haven’t fallen too far behind the others – they could finish as high as third this week with a win tonight, depending on how other results go.
Prediction: Melbourne Victory should be able to make it two wins a row tonight.
TK
Guest
Ian I was yelling at the TV when that last clearance was made - all the time in the world to do something with that ball and it gets kicked out over the sideline....than as you say Victory get possession through the throw in and it's 3 - 3. A real coach killer.
TK
Guest
I agree with you Mid, I thought the SBS commentary didn't give enough credit to the Mainers - the focus was definitely on Melbourne. Bit more subtle than the usual Nix home commentary though.
Midfielder
Guest
LH We have had to ignore the media and PFA and fans of many other clubs who constantly question our right to be in the competition ... the favourite chant from Hal 1, is as follows Nobody rates us We don't care. Could not agree more we need a couple more senior players ... in the last 30 minutes tonight we needed a couple more clam heads we panicked and were just hoofing the ball up the field .. but this is a young squad and coach and coaching staff they all learnt something tonight ...
Mister Football
Roar Guru
14,268 at Geelong tonight.
Lionheart
Guest
No doubt they're a good attacking unit Middie. I saw their Roar game, round 2 I think, and they were impressive then, but I still can't help thinking that you need a more balanced squad, more senior players. We all spend the same $ don't we? But CCM have produced some great youngsters. Best ignore the PFA, and much of the media.
Midfielder
Guest
THis has always been a building season to settle a new group of young players and a new coach... Whats happened is some senior players were not happy and if the rumours are correct spread a lot of discontent ,,, those that did not want to buy in have largely gone or are going.. I honestly believe this side with a year under its belt with maybe 1 or 2 senior players assisting not white ant-ing then next year we will be a huge for us the owner this week in a pod cast strongly backed the coach the coaching staff the remaining players especially the kids our bills are being paid on time .. We still battle many in some sections of the media and we seem to be the PFA's team to attack... eg last week the PFA said in a releasing a public statement ..3 teams are behind with their super, Newcastle, Brisbane and the Central Coast we are not to concerned if Newcastle and Brisbane go past the date because they have put things in place but we worry about the Mariners and have advised players of their rights... go figure ... like when weeMac went to the Nix when he was contracted to us the PFA said our contract was worthless and got the Nix to take us to court ....We won that media company you know the one that every 12 months or less says we are being sold to an old NSL club ... well they reported it as a victory to the PFA when the courts tore them to shreds .. Back to my point this must be close to the youngest side ever to play weekly ... we will get better and amazing when the know alls leave ... we play better ....
Midfielder
Guest
LH Have never had a complaint about Fox and IMO in Bozza they have the new JW
Lionheart
Guest
Agreed. Listening to the coach though, I can't help but think he is too casual about it all. He says they'll pick up on those things missing in the second half (composure, defense, etc) with experience and time. But this season's half gone already - does he think this is the NYL or something Midfielder? They're in this to win aren't they? and not just to develop players.
Lionheart
Guest
Fox did both coaches and players from both teams MF. For all the criticism that we can level at Fox, their HAL coverage is good.
Midfielder
Guest
Gotta say that was the best 45 minutes of Football ever played in Hal by a young side.... that's not a side with trouble in the room...
Lionheart
Guest
I think you're béing generous thére. I'm sure I saw a great play by Kosta (MV's best) Barabarousis, off his chest to foot then pass to his former Roar team mate Berisha who struck it well but hit a post. Your mate was coming through nicely but had it laid out for him with a clear shot. Great goal though, great game. Well played CCM too, to make this a very viewable game.
Midfielder
Guest
Gotta thank SBS for their usual fair time allotted to each side .... I must have missed it when they interviewed the Mariner players and coach after the game ... never mind like the Mainers are on TV most weeks so it fair to interview MV folk as they don't get much exposure...
Ian
Guest
Agree TK. Mariners seemed to be panicking and looked like not trying to keep possession even for a few passes to at least soak up time. Just belting it back. And a last clearance was very poor - could have passed back to the keeper but a lazy horizontal clearance, not even down the line. A few seconds later Victory score for 3-3. A tale of two halves for both teams.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
Two different teams out there tonight for CCM, the team i watched in the first half was disciplined and ruthless in possession and sounds like they fell to bits in the second. Very young side and should be pretty happy to score 3 away from home.
TK
Guest
Well the mariners only have themselves to blame - you can't just give the ball away and not even try and keep possession and expect to hold on in that situation against victory coming in with a wet sail. The other team can't score if they don't have the ball, but the mariners made it pretty easy for the victory to get the ball in the second half and good on victory for taking the opportunity. The mariners will learn a hard lesson from this one.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
The wive sends me out to get dinner and this happens, fair play Victory huge comeback.
Thrilling draw
Before kick off "Well over 20,000 have turned up" Second half "14,000 is the crowd figure" Still Good, and what a game!
c
Guest
i hope that the young Mariners hold on to win the first three half goals were magnificent best half of the season
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Arch scores!! 3-2 blindingly quick passage of play, involving chest down by Berisha, shot off the crossbar, Arch mops up from about 8 mtrs out