For Brisbane Roar Head Coach Mike Mulvey, tomorrow’s Harvey Norman Friday Night Football clash against Melbourne Victory is business as usual.
For Brisbane Roar Head Coach Mike Mulvey, tomorrow-s Harvey Norman Friday Night Football clash against Melbourne Victory is business as usual.
There has been much hype surrounding Ange Postecoglou-s impending departure from the Victory to take over as national coach but Mulvey said his only focus this week has been on the Roar-s preparation ahead of a tough encounter.
“It-s just another game,” Mulvey said.
“It-s the third game of the season and a fantastic chance for us to test ourselves against a team that everyone has tipped to be champions.
“We know it-s going to be a big test, they are a good side. I was mightily impressed with their second half performance last week.”
Mulvey-s message to the players this week has been has been focused on re-producing their winning formula.
“If we go down there with the normal ingredients of our performances – hard work from the start, good collaboration on the field and looking like we-re as one – then everything will be fine,” he said.
The Roar coach was asked whether this match will be the side-s first tough encounter of the season.
“No – every game is difficult in the A-League,” Mulvey said.
“What we-ve done is come up trumps in both games we-ve played.
“One was at the death, the next one was a bit more convincing and this is just the next test.
“Anybody who thinks there is an easy game in the A-League is kidding themselves.
“Our preparation has been very, very good. It-s been very, very focused and that-s the key. If we take care of ourselves then anything is possible”.
Mulvey made note of the big game players within his squad but said that tomorrow night is a whole new match and the past won-t count for anything.
“I know we-ve got players who have been there and done that,” he said.
“But they also recognise that the past is the past. You-ve got to go and write history, not read about it”.
Friday, 25 October 2013
Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Kick-off: 6.30pm Brisbane time (7:30pm AEDT)
Referee: Ben Williams
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Brennan
Assistant Referee 2: Jonathan Barreiro
Fourth Official: Lucien Laverdure
TV broadcast: 7.30pm (AEDT) Live coverage on FOX Sports 1HD, SBS 2 and Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand).
Radio Broadcast: 612 ABC Brisbane, ABC Local Radio Queensland, 774 ABC Melbourne, ABC Local radio Victoria, ABC Local Radio Tasmania, Grandstand Digital and Online/Mobile phone app.
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #GoRoar
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Nathan COE (gk), 3.Adama TRAORE, 4.Nick ANSELL, 5.Mark MILLIGAN ©, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Gui FINKLER, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 11.Connor PAIN, 13.Andrew NABBOUT, 14.James TROISI, 15.Mitch NICHOLS, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 17.Jimmy JEGGO, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 23.Adrian LEIJER, 24, Scott GALLOWAY.25, Jason GERIA
*Two to be omitted*
Ins: 13.Andrew NABBOUT (promoted), 17.James JEGGO (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 2.Pablo CONTRERAS (suspended – 1 game)
Brisbane Roar squad: 1.Michael THEO (gk), 2.Matthew SMITH (c), 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 10.HENRIQUE, 11.Liam MILLER, 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Diogo FERREIRA, 15.James DONACHIE, 17.Matt McKAY, 18.Luke BRATTAN, 19.Jack HINGERT, 29.Matthew ACTON (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 26.Corey BROWN, 29.Kwame YEBOAH *One to be omitted*
Ins: 29.Kwame YEBOAH (promoted), 14.Diogo FERREIRA (promoted)
Out: Besart BERISHA (hamstring – two weeks)
Unavailable: George LAMBADARDIS (knee – season)
