Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar: Paul Okon fears backlash over ACL embarrassment

MARINERS coach Paul Okon is expecting to face a fired-up Roar side in Gosford tonight after Brisbane’s horror display in the AFC Champions League.

Central Coast Mariners coach Paul Okon warns of a Brisbane Roar backlash.

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MARINERS coach Paul Okon is expecting a backlash in Gosford tonight from a Brisbane Roar side desperate to atone for their AFC Champions League debacle.

If the Roar’s shock 3-2 loss to lowly Filipino outfit Ceres-Negros in Brisbane on Tuesday night wasn’t bad enough, the sight of several shirt numbers peeling off the backs of players’ jerseys was plain embarrassing — forcing the club into making a public apology to fans.

Okon knows that being knocked out of the continental competition will serve as added motivation for Brisbane but he said his Central Coast team was ready for whatever comes their way tonight.

Mariners head coach Paul Okon is wary of the Roar. Picture: AAP

“The fact that they got knocked out last week might even work in their favour — it may motivate them more — but we can only control what we’ve done this week and the way we’ve prepared,” Okon said.

“All season, whenever we’ve prepared for an opponent, we do our analysis and we look at their recent performances.

“We’re quite confident we know how the Roar will set up against us, what they’ll try do when they have the ball and when they don’t have the ball.”

The Roar’s embarrassment was compounded by the jersey farce. Picture: AAP

The Mariners will take plenty out of their last performance, when they held the A-League leaders Sydney FC to a 1-1 draw away from home.

“The performance was excellent,” Okon said.

“The big challenge is for us to repeat that — to have the same energy and intensity that we showed.

“We’re at home, so we expect to perform again.”

The Mariners have started 2018 with three draws and a loss.

It hasn’t been an easy period for them, made worse by the sudden departure of their Spanish striker Asdrubal, who was allowed to return home for family reasons.

Blake Powell will again lead from the front for the Mariners. Picture: AAP

It means Okon is on the hunt for a new striker with just days to go before the transfer window closes.

Blake Powell is expected to play up front for the Mariners against Brisbane, and Okon has a fully fit squad available to him with the exception of Connor Pain, who has a hamstring injury.

“We knew January was going to be tough for us and we’d hoped we would have more points to show for it, but we’re confident that with what’s coming up there are points on offer for us,” Okon said.

“We know we have got goals in us.”

Originally published as Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar: Paul Okon fears backlash over ACL embarrassment