Central Coast Mariners boss Tony Walmsley says red-hot Perth Glory are right to be wary of his team, despite sitting rock bottom of the A-League ladder.
Earleir in the week, Glory winger Chris Harold, a key figure in the West Australian club’s resurgence, said he and his team mates were “wary” of the travelling Mariners, despite their unenviable position as A-League cellar-dwellers, a position they have occupied for much of the season.
Walmsley’s Mariners have won just three matches this season, one of which was a home win against the Glory in the season’s opening round.
Yet despite their plight, Walmsley says Harold and Perth have every right to be wary of his team, even saying this is a match he fancies taking points from.
“The A-League’s an incredible tight competition, and I say that, we’re sitting at the bottom of the table and a fair way shy of the top,” Walmsley said.
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“But we only need to look at our previous performances against the (Melbourne) Victory and against Wanderers, Brisbane early in the season, that it’s a very competitive competition.
“Last time out in Perth, we took a lead into half time and within three minutes of madness, they’d scored twice.
“They have a right to be wary but they’ve recruited very well in January and their run of form since then has been sensational, just shy of Adelaide’s, so they’re one of the form teams in the comp.
“They’re playing at home and will fancy themselves to win the game, but this is a game that we give ourselves a real chance of getting something out of it.”
Walmsley may have reason to be confident ahead of the trip west, with key man Mitch Austin named in the squad to travel across the Nullarbor despite limping off the pitch in last weekend’s defeat to Melbourne Victory.
A back injury raised fears about Austin’s short-term playing future, but Walmsley says the winger simply suffered “pain” in his back and that it is nothing serious.
“He (Austin) had a back complaint last week … he was fine, it wasn’t a serious injury, he just had some pain in the back.
“He’s making the trip and should be ready to go.”
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