North Queensland Fury v Central Coast Mariners
Dairy Farmers Stadium
Saturday 21st November 2009

North Queensland Fury may have lost only one of their last six games, but they still prop up the A-League ladder and will have to be at their best to overcome a Central Coast Mariners side that destroyed reigning premiers Melbourne last time out. Fury boss Ian Ferguson has used the international break to run the rule over former Manchester United man Terry Cooke who is being lined up as a possible injury replacement for fellow-Englishman James Robinson. Robinson will miss the rest of the season after picking up an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Newcastle, but even if Fury do opt to bring Cooke on board, he will not be registered in time to feature against the Mariners. Long-term absentees Scott Wilson, Shane Stefanutto and Jacob Timpano remain sidelined for the home side, but Karl Dodd and Ufuk Talay could return to the squad.

The Mariners, meanwhile, continue to confound the critics, riding high in fourth place on the ladder after inflicting Melbourne’s heaviest ever home defeat in their last outing. Coach Lawrie McKinna has no fresh injury problems to contend with ahead of the trip north and has received good news on the contract front, with both Brad Porter and Matthew Lewis signing new deals at Bluetongue Stadium. One man who will not be staying in Gosford beyond the end of season is Adelaide-bound defender Nigel Boogaard, but the former Australia Under-23 international has vowed to mark his exit by helping to steer the Mariners to Grand Final glory.

The Mariners’ miserly defence successfully blunted Melbourne’s much-vaunted attack in Round 14 and will be confident of producing a repeat performance at Dairy Farmers Stadium despite the presence of a certain Robbie Fowler in the home side’s ranks. Fury will undoubtedly miss Robinson whose tireless work often went unnoticed by fans, if not by his team-mates and his absence is another major blow for a club that has been plagued by injuries since its very inception.

Expect the visitors to soak up plenty of pressure and grab the winner on the break.
Prediction: North Queensland Fury 0-1 Central Coast Mariners