A bye last weekend saw Central Coast Mariners drop to the bottom of the Hyundai A-League ladder so a clash with a Sydney FC outfit in imposing form is the last thing Alen Stajcic will have wanted.
The Mariners have a horror record against the Sky Blues, picking up just one win against them in the last five seasons, which came more than three years ago.
But there is a far steelier resolve to the Mariners under Stajcic and they’ll need all that and more to stop the Champions, who have been imperious of late.
Last weekend’s 5-1 demolition of Brisbane Roar was their ninth win in their last 10 Hyundai A-League games, and they’ve scored 16 goals in their last five outings.
The Sky Blues are five points clear at the top of the ladder, while the Mariners need the three points to keep in touch with the top six.
Click here to buy tickets
Saturday, December 14 2019
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEDT
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
How to follow the action
Match centre: Live updates, videos and statistics
Follow @SydneyFC on Twitter and join the conversation using #SYDvCCM #SydneyIsSkyBlue
Team news
Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Patrick FLOTTMANN, 4.Alex WILKINSON (c), 5.Alex BAUMJOHANN, 6.Ryan McGOWAN, 7. Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.Adam LE FONDRE, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 16.Joel KING, 17.Anthony CACERES, 18.Luke IVANOVIC, 20.Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 21.Harry VAN DER SAAG, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.Marco TILIO, 25. Ryan TEAGUE, 26.Luke BRATTAN.
**2-4 to be omitted**
In: 24.Marco TILIO (promoted), 7. Michael ZULLO (return from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 3.Ben WARLAND (ACL), 13. Brandon O’NEILL (knee), 19. Chris ZUVELA (knee)
Did you know?
- Sydney FC (21) have scored the most goals of any team this Hyundai A-League campaign, three times as many as the Central Coast Mariners (7).
- Central Coast Mariners have led 1-0 at half-time in each of their last three away games against Sydney FC in the Hyundai A-League; however, they’ve not managed to win in that time (D2, L1).
- Sydney FC gloveman Andrew Redmayne boasts a save percentage of 79% this Hyundai A-League campaign, the highest of any goalkeeper.
- Each of the Mariners’ last two Hyundai A-League games have been goalless at half-time on the day; the Mariners have gone on to win only two of their previous 24 games when they’ve failed to score a first-half goal on the day (L22).
