A-League: Popovic keeps faith in Andrew Redmayne for Wanderers

Andrew Redmayne will start in goal for the Wanderers against Central Coast.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic is keeping faith with goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne for the match against Central Coast Mariners today.

Western Sydney coach Tony ­Popovic has revealed he did not single out Andrew Redmayne after the under-fire goalkeeper took the brunt of the blame for the Wanderers throwing away a two-goal lead in the draw with New­castle Jets last week.

Redmayne made mistakes that led to the Jets scoring twice in the last 10 minutes of the game to snatch a valuable point, leaving Wanderers fans deflated and calling for the keeper’s blood.

But Popovic wasn’t about to indulge in a blame game ahead of today’s match against cellar-dwellers Central Coast Mariners at Spotless Stadium. Indeed, in a show of faith, he has declared Redmayne will “definitely start” against the Mariners.

“Yes he will start,” Popovic said, admitting he hadn’t sounded the player out at training during the week. “I didn’t speak to him specifically. I mentioned last week that I was more interested about how we got ourselves under pressure to get to that point.

“We gave away two free kicks on the edge of the box after we had possession, were not under pressure but gave away the ball. There were mistakes leading up to the goals and that’s something we have to sort out.”

When asked if he was concerned with Redmayne’s form, ­Popovic relied with a firm “no”.

Popovic said he didn’t want to dwell on last week’s match, except to say he had been happy with the way they had played for about 65 minutes. “We have analysed and reviewed it but now we move on. We have a tough game against the Mariners coming up,” he said.

Despite their lowly position, Popovic has nothing but respect for Central Coast and Paul Okon, who is in his first season as a senior coach.

“On results they are struggling but if you look at their perform­ances they are having some very good moments and those moments are getting longer with each game,” he said. “I can see what Paul is trying to do with the team.

“We just have to make sure we don’t allow their good moments to get longer against us.”

Okon and Popovic played together with the Socceroos and they count each other as friends.

“I always thought he’d make a good coach,” Popovic said. “He is a real thinker. The way he played and the countries he played in (Belgium, Italy and England), there was always a strong possibility he would coach. Now he has his own team and project. I have seen signs since he came in regarding what he is trying to build, and it is getting better.”

Popovic is unlikely to make may changes to his side, although import Nicolas Martinez is ex­pected to get his starting debut after coming off the bench in the opening three matches. “Nico is a chance to start, yes,” Popovic said. “He has been in contention all three games. But we have had to be careful with his fitness. But you can see he is getting stronger.”

The Wanderers will have to be wary of Mariners striker Blake Powell. Popovic well remembers his four-goal effort against the Wanderers last season when he was playing with Wellington Phoenix, who won the game 5-2 as Powell scored a first half hat-trick before grabbing a fourth goal in the second half.