Outside90’s Breanna Holden takes a look at the defining factors of today’s meeting between Wellington and Central Coast.
Can Wellington buck tradition?
The Nix have made their home ground a fortress in recent memory and this campaign has been no different, with Ernie Merrick’s men going their last five games without a loss on home turf. However, despite that run of form the New Zealand outfit have struggled to exert their dominance over this weekend’s guests, the Central Coast. From their last four home encounters against the Mariners, Wellington have drawn three, and in their previous seven in both Australia and across the ditch, neither side have managed a clean sheet.
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Central Coast’s sloppy final 15 minutes.
With the most goals conceded in the league this season it is hard to target one particular area of the Mariners defensive game that needs work. However, given their 2-1 loss to Western Sydney in the final stages of last weekend’s game, the side’s lapses in concentration during the final 15 minutes has certainly been a noted issue. In fact, they have shipped a whopping 12 goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season – the highest in the league. Given Wellington have salvaged 10 points from losing positions, Central Coast will need to have worked on their mental and physical resilience if they’re to come away with a win.
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Absence of Nick Montgomery.
The loss of a captain through suspension or injury is always a huge blow, but particularly when a side is struggling at the bottom of the ladder; and the absence of Mariners captain Nick Montgomery will be no exception. Not only will the NSW side miss the imports’ natural leadership, but given his role in helping marshal the team’s struggling defence the visitors could be in for tough 90 minutes. Should their squad depth fail to fill the hole left by his suspension, Wellington’s attack could be allowed to run rampant.
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