CENTRAL Coast coach Lawrie McKinna has been keeping a close eye on his players’ body language this week and is sure the Mariners aren’t about to choke in their bid for the A-League minor premiership.
Frontrunners for all but one week of the season, Central Coast have begun to look somewhat vulnerable at the top of the table in recent weeks after just one win in four games and two losses – the last a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat against Sydney FC which saw key defender Dean Heffernan suffer a season-ending broken leg.
With a three-point cushion heading into the final four rounds of the regular season, the league title is there for the Mariners’ taking.
It is also there for them to lose.
But McKinna is confident his players aren’t about to tense up.
"I’ve been watching the body language and how the boys are handling it and the boys have been laid back about it," said McKinna after the Mariners’ final training run ahead of the clash with Melbourne Victory in Gosford.
"They’ve known all season how they are. There’s no over confidence, just that air of confidence in their own game and confidence in each other.
"They definitely don’t look as though they are freezing up."
Socceroos striker John Aloisi is expected to start for the Mariners after being cleared of a knee injury, with McKinna hopeful midfielder John Hutchinson will also be right after struggling with his own knee problem suffered against Sydney.
Central Coast have already lost Heffernan and Greg Owens to injury, and goalkeeper Danny Vukovic and Adam Kwasnik to suspension for the New Year’s Eve match.
"Aloisi is 100 per cent, Hutch trained today fully. But we’re going to wait and see how he pulls up in the morning," McKinna said.
"We don’t want him to play if he’s going to put himself out for a couple of weeks.
"He went alright today, he’s just not 100 per cent. But we’re going to make a call on him tomorrow. If he doesn’t play Brad Porter will come in."
Melbourne remain a mathematical chance of making the finals, but anything less than a win will end any faint hope the Victory had of defending their title.
The Victory have not won a game since October – a streak of eight matches – but McKinna remains wary of the reigning champions, particularly with under-pressure coach Ernie Merrick set to field one of his strongest line-ups of the season.
"They’ve obviously had their ups and downs, but I think (Grant) Brebner is back and they’ll bring a few of their experienced boys in there. And on their day they can be one of the best teams in the country, and that’s why we have to give them respect, and go out there and do our job," said McKinna.
Reuters
Source: Mariners form slump no choke
