Brisbane Roar fans will be hoping for a much-improved performance from a team beginning to lose focus. After a couple of substandard games they take on a Central Coast outfit consisting of a group of players now playing for their footballing careers.
A run of disappointing results means Brisbane’s late season push for a finals position looks have hit the end of the road. Now sitting eight points outside the top six with only one game in hand, it would take a monumental failure for Melbourne City to not consolidate and earn a place in the finals. However, the Roar still have continental aspirations and will look to use these final A-League rounds to make sure they are in peak condition for the final push to make the knockout stages.
On the other hand, the Central Coast Mariners sit a further five points behind Brisbane and are looking to end what has been a disappointing season on a positive note. They took the game to Melbourne Victory last weekend, but lacked to class to get the final result, while the restructuring of the playing staff has already begun, showing a determined effort to make sure this season is no repeated.
Key Battle – Luke Brattan vs Anthony Caceres
Luke Brattan against Anthony Caceres is shaping up to be the integral match-up within this game. Brattan has proven his importance to this Brisbane team, especially when forced to play at centre-back, in-turn taking the opportunity to overlap the Roar midfield.
Anthony Caceres, however, has proven to be an important cog in the Mariners midfield, as he links the strikers in the attacking movements and provides a creative outlet in a midfield that can often be devoid of ideas on many occasions. How Brattan deals with his presence, and to what extent Caceres is able to gain a foothold in the game will prove to be a central subplot to Thursday’s game.
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Team News
The Brisbane team has been hit with a stream of late season injuries, consisting mainly of Henrique having a full knee reconstruction and Jerome Polenz being ruled out for four weeks. It seems to be that Thomas Broich will be out for this game as well, as Frans Thijssen looks to take no risks with the marquee man, considering the gruelling run of games over the next month.
In what is positive news for the team, Jade North and Daniel Bowles emerged unscathed from the Melbourne City game after both being rushed into the starting line up. Youngster Shannon Brady has also just signed a four-year senior deal with the club, making the step up from the youth squad.
Brisbane Roar expected XI (4-3-3): Young, Hingert, Stefanutto, North, Bowles, Brattan, Lustica, Clut, Borrello, Solorzano, Petratos
The main team news stemming from the Mariners is the cleanout of playing staff that has begun. After Matt Simon was told two weeks ago his services were no longer needed next season, Brent Griffiths has also been given the same news. On the field, a lack of injuries to key players means that Central Coast should have a relatively strong squad to pick from.
Central Coast Mariners expected XI (4-4-2): Reddy, Rose, Bosnar, Anderson, Morton, Hutchinson, Cernak, Montgomery, Caceres, Fitzgerald, Ferreira
Head-to-head
Throughout the 37 times this fixture has been played, Brisbane Roar have been victorious 19 times, with 11 draws. Leaving the Mariners with only seven wins from previous meetings.
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Prediction
While Brisbane are reeling after successive defeats, the Central Coast are slowly building confidence. However, at home and with a very important point to prove, Brisbane will prove to be too strong, as the likes of Borrello and Clut attempt to reinforce their position in the team, with players retuning from injury and international duty in the coming days, creating an increased competition for places.
Brisbane Roar 2 Central Coast Mariners 1
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