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Looking resplendent in pink, the Mariners came away from Sunday afternoon's win against Perth with some important realisations.
The Mariners now know that the off-season loss of defensive stalwart and club captain Alex Wilkinson does not mean the Coast will start leaking goals.
FULL MATCH REPORT
Slotting into the familiar back line alongside the likes of Patrick Zwaanswijk, Josh Rose and Pedj Bojic, Trent Sainsbury was the clear player of the match. Sainsbury's work rate was excellent and it was his magnificent deep pass to Daniel McBreen that allowed the Mariners to take the points from the heated match.
Coach Graham Arnold said that Sainsbury was well suited to replace Wilkinson and was delighted with the young player's effort in the match.
“A lot of people were worried and concerned when we lost Alex Wilkinson but I have a lot of faith in Australian youngsters and Trent Sainsbury who has been with us for two years has had to sit back and be patient. He has learnt the ropes off ‘Wilko’ (Wilkinson) and Patrick (Zwaanswijk) and I thought today he was superb,” he said.
“Last week was probably a five and today was about a six (out of ten),” Arnold said. “We can do much better and we have to do much better. The standard of the A-League is going up and we need to go up with it.”
“I don’t want us to be in form in October, we weren't last year. We build into the season and it’s important that we’re fit and we grind out results and we’re strong defensively.”
“Next week we will have to go up another couple of levels because I thought Newcastle were very good last night against Sydney in a wonderful spectacle. It’s still a work in progress and we will only get better.” Arnold said.
The Mariners now know that the off-season loss of defensive stalwart and club captain Alex Wilkinson does not mean the Coast will start leaking goals.
Slotting into the familiar back line alongside the likes of Patrick Zwaanswijk, Josh Rose and Pedj Bojic, Trent Sainsbury was the clear player of the match. Sainsbury's work rate was excellent and it was his magnificent deep pass to Daniel McBreen that allowed the Mariners to take the points from the heated match.
Coach Graham Arnold said that Sainsbury was well suited to replace Wilkinson and was delighted with the young player's effort in the match.
“A lot of people were worried and concerned when we lost Alex Wilkinson but I have a lot of faith in Australian youngsters and Trent Sainsbury who has been with us for two years has had to sit back and be patient. He has learnt the ropes off ‘Wilko’ (Wilkinson) and Patrick (Zwaanswijk) and I thought today he was superb,” he said.
Sainsbury is another young Mariner to successfully make the leap into the senior squad. He and other former youth team players like Tom Rogic and Mitchell Duke have made themselves invaluable to the Mariners, a team that does not have the coffers to afford a Del Piero or Heskey.
The rising youth talent unfortunately do not make the turnstiles spin. 9,192 fans showed up to the home match, something of a disappointment considering it was a bright Sunday afternoon and the first hit out of a much hyped season.
Arnold said that the team's performance was an improvement from the side's nil all draw against the Wanderers in round one but added that the side would have to continue to improve if they want to be contenders in a season where performance has risen across the league.
“I don’t want us to be in form in October, we weren't last year. We build into the season and it’s important that we’re fit and we grind out results and we’re strong defensively.”
Mariners gloveman Matty Ryan is yet to concede a goal this season. He and the rest of the Coast's defensive unit will have to put in especially strong performances against a firing Newcastle side next Saturday if the Mariners hope to head back down the F3 with a victory against their biggest rivals.