Mariners vs Perth

[bradley]

PERTH goalkeeper Danny Vukovic says all the pressure is on Central Coast Mariners for Saturday's A-League preliminary final.

After beating Melbourne Heart and Wellington in their final campaign thus far, Perth are just one win away from their first Grand Final appearance since the 2004 NSL decider.

Vukovic said they go into the biggest match in the club's A-League history high on confidence but he was happy to accept the underdog tag.

"It (the pressure) is all on them. They finished first after the regular season, they're expected to be in the Grand Final and we're going to go over there to try to ruin their party," Vukovic said.

"To finish first and still not be in the Grand Final I think would hurt them a lot ... so I think the pressure really isn't on us this week.

"In the last two games we played we were expected to win but in this one the Mariners are expected to win so we can go over there with no pressure on our shoulders and without anything to lose."

Vukovic said the match would carry extra significance for him given he played for Central Coast from 2005 until 2010.

The 27-year-old has never won an A-League game against his former club in Gosford.

Perth's record there is not much better as they have avoided defeat just once from nine trips, which came in the form of a goalless draw in 2009.

But Vukovic said there was no reason the trip should intimidate Glory.

"I wouldn't say it's a tough place (to play)," he said. "The crowds that they get aren't huge and they're not a very vocal crowd.

"I played there and loved my time there but there's a lot more daunting places to go to in the A-League."

Although the Mariners were smashed 5-2 on aggregate by Roar, who will host the Grand Final, Vukovic said he had been impressed by their display in the second leg.

"They showed great character and I thought they dominated the game," he said. "They did well and we're going to have to be on top of our game to beat them on Saturday.

"There'll probably be few chances but when we get those chances we'll need to take them. I think we need to be a little bit better in defence as well."

Adds a bit of fire to the match, for us fans anyway, not that we should really need it.

 

[shipwreck]

Lol, Danny the D-bag

 

[Atomic]

He's right though.

I suspect that this weekend's crowd will be smaller than last weekend's crowd.

 

[MrCelery]

So that's how you judge the CCM fans that fanatically supported you through thick and thin, Danny?

Granted The Shed is noisier than Bay 16, but I thought you had more class.

It is also noted that you are not a shadow of the player you were when playing for CCM.

 

[true believer]

He's right though.

I suspect that this weekend's crowd will be smaller than last weekend's crowd.

if we get 3,000 less than last week we'll still have 10 thousand

 

[Wombat]

Yeah, how weird were the crowd figures?

FFA corruption, FFA incompetence (how unusual) or CCM trying to keep a few extra dollars for themselves?....... In which case, well done boys and f**k the FFA as usual....but try not to be so blatant....maybe fudge it by 1000.

 

[pjennings]

The 27-year-old has never won an A-League game against his former club in Gosford.

Perth's record there is not much better as they have avoided defeat just once from nine trips, which came in the form of a goalless draw in 2009.

But Vukovic said there was no reason the trip should intimidate Glory.

"I wouldn't say it's a tough place (to play)," he said.

To fix the rest of his quote 'It is an easy place to play. I've won there so often ... except that was with the Mariners - not against them. Oh shit!!'

 

[Wombat]

I like Danny although I no longer rate him at all (including his last season with us).
He deserves a good sledging on the weekend, especially as he let's in the 3rd goal with his customary legs rooted to the ground, swivel of the hips, oh f**k, how did then end up in corner routine.

 

[Wombat]

Btw ....for fook sake Arnie.....can you play Bernie for the full 90 as we would actually like to make it to the GF!!

 

[Capn Gus Bloodbeard]

Haha, good comments from Danny, nothing like stirring the pot a little, and he's done so without being nasty about it, nice work.

Though if I was a Glory supporter I wouldn't approve - the last thing you ever want to do is give your opponents another reason to beat you.

We should win this one, but it all depends what mood we're in today. Whether we actually turn up to play or not.

You know what would be perfect?

When we're winning, the normal chant of 'Danny, what's the score? Danny danny, what's the score?' would be absolutely perfect.

Come on, you've GOT to do that!!

 

[kevrenor]

Saturday, 14 April 2012
Central Coast Mariners (1) v Perth Glory (3)
Venue: Bluetongue Stadium
Local Kick-off: 5.00pm AEST (3.00pm WST)

Referees: Strebre Delovski / Matthew Cream / David Walsh / Chris Beath

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1

Head-to-Head: Played 21; Central Coast Mariners FC 13, Perth Glory FC 3, Drawn 5

Tickets available here

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Mathew Ryan (Gk), 2. Daniel McBreen, 3. Joshua Rose, 4. Pedj Bojic, 6. Patrick Zwaanswijk, 7. John Hutchinson, 9. Bernie Ibini, 10. Adriano Pellegrino, 11. Oliver Bozanic, 12. Troy Hearfield, 14. Michael McGlinchey, 15. Brad McDonald, 16. Trent Sainsbury, 17. Tomas Rogic, 18. Alex Wilkinson ©, 19. John Sutton, 20. Justin Pasfield (Gk), 21. Sam Gallagher, 22. Mustafa Amini, 23. Adam Kwasnik, 27. Trent McClenahan *five to be omitted*

In: 10. Adriano Pellegrino, 12. Troy Hearfield, 15. Brad McDonald, 21. Sam Gallagher, 27. Trent McClenahan (All Promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Nil

Perth Glory Squad: 1.Danny Vukovic (Gk), 2.Josh Mtchell, 3.Bas Van Den Brink, 4.Billy Mehmet, 5.Steve Pantelidis, 7.Jacob Burns, 9.Shane Smeltz, 10.Liam Miller, 12.Scott Neville 13.Travis Dodd, 14.Steven Mcgarry, 15.Tommy Amphlett, 17.Todd Howarth, 18.Jesse Makarounas, 19.Josh Risdon, 20. Neil Young, 26.Brandon O’neill, 28. Ndumba Makeche 27.Andrezinho, 28. Ndumba Makeche, 35. Dean Heffernan *five to be omitted*

In: 15.Tommy Amphlett, 18.Jesse Makarounas, 26.Brandon O’neill, 28. Ndumba Makeche (All Promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 6.Chris Coyne (Achilles), 16. Evan Berger (Hamstring)

 

[Mumbles]

I Think the boys will do well tonight.
We always end up doing it the hard way.

 

[true believer]

last a-league game of the season at BT, sob.

 

[Wombat]

just brought tickets online and pax was 7050.

so we should hopefully crack 10K

 

[Mumbles]

And Ibini scores in the first minute!
Yeeeeeeeehhhhhhh!

Oh! Game hasn't started.

 

[marinermick]

And Ibini scores in the first minute!
Yeeeeeeeehhhhhhh!

Oh! Game hasn't started.

Bernie on the bench

 

[midfielder]

OMG we are playing poorly .... why Musty not even on the bench...

 

[Mumbles]

Another bloody offside goal.

Can't get a break can they?

 

[Mumbles]

Patrick wins a mars bar in the cross bar challenge!

Please God, kill me now

Ibinnniiiiiii. Go son. !

 

[MagpieMariner]

Penalties. Who's going to take ours?