Mulvey won’t sulk over late loss

Central Coast coach Mike Mulvey says there’s no use sulking.

Central Coast Mariners coach Mike Mulvey.

Central Coast coach Mike Mulvey says there’s no use sulking.

The Mariners remain last in the A-League after being pipped by a 92nd-minute goal in a 2-1 away loss to Adelaide United on Sunday.

Mulvey believes his charges ­deserved to take at least a point from Adelaide. “We’re playing a top-four team, should be in the top two,” Mulvey said of Adelaide.

“They’re a good side, they have got some very good players, and we took them all the way. So that gives us an indication of how far we are coming.

“But we’re not ready for that next level right now; we haven’t got that mental toughness to see out a game.”

Mulvey believes such strength will come via fresh signing Jem Karacan, a former English Premier League midfielder, and other recruits.

“We are going to have a couple of added players to the squad, which will increase the depth and intensity at training and competition for places,” he said. “We have lost the game and it’s very, very frustrating and we should have come away with something.

“But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves because we have got a game next week against Melbourne Victory and we need to get up for that.”

Newcastle Jets coach Ernie Merrick reckons the VAR has lost its bite after watching two crucial incidents go unpunished in the 2-0 loss to Perth Glory.

The VAR was called into action when a Ronald Vargas thunderbolt cannoned into the arm of Glory defender Matthew Spiranovic in the 82nd minute on Sunday.

Replays showed Spiranovic kept his arm tucked in as he turned his body to protect himself, with the VAR deciding no penalty should be awarded despite the ball touching the player’s lower arm.

But the incident that really got Merrick’s blood boiling was when striker Roy O’Donovan was bundled over by Glory defender Shane Lowry in the 70th minute.

That incident wasn’t officially reviewed by the VAR, and Merrick wasn’t happy after the match.

“The guy in the VAR was having a cup of tea. He didn’t have a chance to look at it. He probably fell asleep,” Merrick said.

AAP