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Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide United: A-League live scores, blog

16th November, 2017
Where: Central Coast Stadium Gosford
When: 7:50PM AEDT
TV: Fox Sports 501
Betting: Central Coast Mariners $2.60, Adelaide United $2.60, Draw $3.39
Andrew Hoole of the Mariners slides in to a supporter on the sideline as he celebrates scoring a goal during the round 6 A-League match between the Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford, Friday, November 10, 2017. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Expert
16th November, 2017
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1353 Reads

Central Coast Mariners host Adelaide United at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford in Round 7 of the A-League. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage starting from 7:50pm AEDT.

The Central Coast Mariners are coming into this game off the back of a huge win last week in Gosford against reigning A-League champions Sydney FC.

You could feel the pressure dissolve around Central Coast stadium after the fulltime whistle as players and fans shared in the euphoria of getting their first win of the season.

Adelaide on the other hand are in pretty bad form losing their last three games and it won’t get any easier for them as they continue to be blighted by the loss of key players.

The challenge for The Mariners is to back up last week’s performance against Sydney on a more consistent basis.

Anyone that has watched them in recent weeks would acknowledge that they play some of the best football in the league but not where it counts.

The problem was always in both boxes, lapses of concentration at the back and poor finishing in front of goal was letting down the attractive possession style football they were producing.

It all seemed to come together against Sydney, they managed to lock out the dangerous trio of Bobo, Alex Brosque and Milos Ninkovic with relative ease, in midfield they dominated the ball and in the front of goal they took their chances with Andrew Hoole and Connor Pain causing problems with their speed and directness.

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I have been very impressed so far with the addition of Wout Brama and Tom Hiariej to the Mariners midfield stocks and they were exceptional last week, intelligent when in possession and working tirelessly off the ball they will look to those two to ensure Central Coast take control of the game.

Adelaide are on downward spiral and need to do whatever they can to stop the rot. Last week’s loss against Newcastle was their third on the spin and you have to feel a little sorry for Reds boss Marco Kurz as his squad has been hit by some key injuries in recent weeks.

Missing five regulars from your starting line-up would hurt any side and it showed with a lack of composure on the ball and concentration off the ball contributing to defeats in recent weeks.

Paul Izzo has showed why he was brought to South Australia by Kurz as he made some vital stops against the Jets, the young shot stopper could be vital to them getting a result tonight.

Ryan Kitto made his first start of the season last week and was one of the positives to be taken from the game. He was bright and busy up the right touchline and put some decent crosses into the box. He could be the one that Central Coast will need to keep an eye on.

Prediction
I am going to back The Mariners tonight as I feel the momentum from last week’s win will spur them on to beat a depleted Adelaide side.

Join The Roar for live scores and coverage starting from 7:50pm AEDT.

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Preview written by Alan Kearney.

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