Slater: Nowhere to hide for ‘united’ Melbourne City and desperate Brisbane Roar

There will be nowhere to hide for the newly “united” Melbourne City and a Brisbane Roar team desperate to find their first win of the season, according to Socceroos great ROBBIE SLATER.

There will be nowhere to hide at Suncorp Stadium when the “united” Melbourne City travel north to face a Brisbane Roar team desperate to earn its first win of the season.

Socceroos great Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde dissect the big issues in the A-League ahead round seven.

CITY’S ‘CULTURE’ TEST

Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar’s insistence that the club’s “culture” has changed since last season and that his players are now “united” will be tested on Friday night against Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium.

Lacking a heartbeat in a dismal 2-0 home loss to the Western Sydney Wanderers last weekend, City must respond emphatically against a Roar side that’s sitting last on the A-League ladder with just one point from five games.

Anything less than a comprehensive performance and win from City will have many questioning just how strong the culture and unity is at the cashed-up Melbourne club.

Melbourne City head coach Aurelio Vidmar insists the club’s culture has changed. Picture: Getty Images

While City have injuries, they should have enough depth to dispose of a Roar side that last week only just avoided becoming the first team to lose its opening five matches of an A-League season.

However, there is no doubt that City fans will remember their team’s most recent visit to Suncorp Stadium, a disastrous night in February when they lost 5-1 in an utterly embarrassing display.

It amazingly came a little more than a month after City thrashed Brisbane 8-1 at AAMI Park.

“That was absolutely two sides of our culture,” Vidmar said on Thursday when asked about the two results.

“(There were) two sides of our group at that stage – that was very clear.

“It wasn’t a real united group last season, to be honest, and that was a reflection of those games 100 per cent.

“The culture has changed. We’ve got a new captain (Aziz Behich). He’s on top of almost everything, so the spirit is high.

“We’ve had a very consistent, tough pre-season that has put us in a pretty good position.”

Socceroos left-back Behich wouldn’t have been happy with his own performance in his side’s loss to the Wanderers, so he will individually have a point to prove on Friday night.

DESPERATE ROAR

While it’s an important game for City on Friday night, it’s just as crucial for other reasons for the struggling Roar.

Having blown a great chance to win for the first time this season last Saturday when they led two against Macarthur FC only to need an own goal in stoppage-time to draw 4-4 and avoid what would have been a soul-crushing defeat, the Roar are desperate to give their fans something to cheer about.

There hasn’t been much to cheer about this season for Brisbane Roar fans. Picture: Getty Images

The schedule hasn’t been kind to Brisbane, but that can’t keep being used as an excuse, and coach Ruben Zadkovich is fully aware of that.

The Roar should take heart from their 5-1 home win over City last season, and also take some confidence that the Melbourne club is no longer the dominant A-League force it once was.

However, if the Roar don’t fix their defensive problems, City could have a field day at Suncorp Stadium.

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MARINERS MUST LIFT

Central Coast coach Mark Jackson did the right thing by apologising to Mariners fans after the team’s poor performance in Tuesday night’s 4-0 AFC Champions League Elite loss to Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos in Gosford.

However, the words will feel cheap if the Mariners don’t bounce back with a more committed and purposeful A-League display against Sydney FC at the same venue on Sunday night.

It’ll be anything but easy against a Sydney side that had the luxury of resting almost all of their best 11 from AFC Champions League Two duty this week, having already secured a berth in the round-of-16.

It means the likes of Douglas Costa, Joe Lolley, Patryk Klimala and Anthony Caceres will be nice and fresh.

Mariners coach Mark Jackson apologised to fans after the club’s 4-0 defeat at the hands of Yokohama F. Marinos earlier this week. Picture: Getty Images

However, the Mariners are in desperate need of a good performance to properly and belatedly launch the defence of their A-League title.

Emulating last season’s treble feat was always going to be an impossible task for a Central Coast team that again lost a host of players in the off-season, but perhaps for the first time this season, the Mariners were well and truly outclassed against Yokohama.

It led to Jackson’s apology, and now redemption is his side’s target, starting on Sunday.

Let’s hope that Mariners fans turn up in good numbers because if there is ever a time Jackson’s men need support, it’s now.

Not having another Champions League game until February should also help Central Coast’s bid to climb up the A-League ladder as the Mariners, who are clearly lacking depth, can focus on one competition.

DERBY DELIGHT

Congratulations to Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix for ensuring Saturday’s New Zealand derby at Go Media Stadium is a sellout.

Jake Brimmer of Auckland FC celebrates a goal during their 2-0 win against Wellington in round three. Picture: Getty Images

Auckland has been amazing in the club’s debut season, and the Phoenix haven’t been far behind.

The Black Knights undoubtedly hold the current bragging rights between the teams, sitting in first place on the ladder with five wins from as many games and yet to concede a goal.

One of those wins was a 2-0 victory in Wellington, so there’s no doubt that the Phoenix boys will have revenge on their minds this weekend.

However, under the guidance of Steve Corica, Auckland has made every post a winner this season and will be intent on further proving who the best club team is not only in New Zealand, but also the entire competition.