Central Coast Mariners - Melbourne City Preview

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Paul IZZO (GK), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Josh ROSE (c), 4.Jacob POSCOLIERO, 5.Harry ASCROFT, 6.Mitch AUSTIN, 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Anthony CACERES, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 14.Daniel HEFFERNAN, 15.Matthew SIM, 16.Liam ROSE, 19.Josh BINGHAM, 20.Anthony KALIK, 21.Michael NEILL, 22.Jake McGING, 23.Tomislav USKOK, 40.Tom HEWARD-BELLE
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 6.Mitch AUSTIN (return from injury), 20.Anthony KALIK (promoted), 23.Tomislav USKOK (promoted)
Outs: 8.Nick MONTGOMERY (suspension – 1 week)
Unavailable: 7.Fabio FERREIRA, (hamstring - 1 week), 18.Glen TRIFIRO (back - 4 weeks)
Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Thomas SORENSEN (GK), 4.Connor CHAPMAN, 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 6.Erik PAARTALU, 8.Aaron MOOY, 9.Harry NOVILLO, 15.David WILLIAMS, 18.Paulo RETRE, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.Tando VELAPHI (GK), 21.Stefan MAUK, 22.Jack CLISBY, 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 24.Patrick KISNORBO, 25.Jacob MELLING, 28.Steve KUZMANOVSKI, 36.Matt MILLAR, 30.Hernan ESPINDOLA
***two to be omitted***
Ins: 19.Ben GARUCCIO (promoted), 24.Patrick KISNORBO (returns from injury), 28.Steve KUZMANOVSKI (promoted
Outs: 7.Corey GAMEIRO (knee - season)
Unavailable: 3.Aaron HUGHES (calf - 1 week), 10.Robi KOREN (calf - 1 week), 11.Michael ZULLO (calf - undisclosed), 14.James BROWN (foot - 4-6 weeks), 26.Marc MARINO (knee - 4-6 weeks)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
Thursday night football returns in Round 9 when the Mariners welcome Melbourne City to the wonderfully picturesque Central Coast stadium.
And wonderful is the only word to describe City last week. They mesmerised Perth Glory with the sublime Aaron Mooy running amok at AAMI Park in a 5-1 belting of Kenny Lowe’s men.
Central Coast, for their part, will be desperate to add some points to their undoubted entertainment factor, but with no midfield general in Nick Montgomery (suspended) and winger Fabio Ferreira still a week away from his return, it won’t be easy.
For City this clash is all about consistency having struggled to put strong performances back-to-back this season.
The Cityzens were 3-1 victors when these sides met at AAMI Park back in Round 3 and can jump to fourth with a win. The Mariners finals hopes will continue to diminish if they don’t snap their form slump.
These two sides have the poorest disciplinary records in the league this season so expect the referee to lay an early marker to ensure there’s no ‘anti-football’ in this one.