Arnold demands more from Mariners

Central Coast Mariners boss Graham Arnold says his players must maintain a high standard for the full 90 minutes of a match.

The Mariners’ 1-0 victory over Sydney on Sunday allowed them to stretch their lead at the top to an impressive eight-point margin with Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Heart both held to 1-1 draws on the road.

But it could have been the same scenario for the Mariners, who allowed Sydney FC back into the contest with a relatively flat second half following a dynamic showing in the opening stanza.

“The second half showed we have to better,” Arnold said. “As we say to the players ‘don’t look at the table’. We have to play every game on its merits.”

“Whether it was down to the emotion and effort that we put in against Melbourne Victory… we were a bit flat in the second half.”

“We had the opportunities for 2-0 and to kill Sydney off but we kept them in the game. Our sloppiness gave them chances.”

Discontent as he was with the second period, Arnold was effusive in his praise for the first-half showing of his charges.

“Today in the first half I thought was perfect football from us,” said Arnold. “They had no chance. They couldn’t get near us.”

“At half-time I demanded a second half like the first. If we didn’t do that we would give them oxygen.”

“We had chances to kill the game off. The save (Liam) Reddy made off Bernie (Ibini) in the second half was a fantastic save but it is always dangerous at 1-0.”

“We know how to win playing good football, but we also know how to win if we are having an off day.”

Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka said his side need to focus on the basics if they are to arrest their losing streak, which has now stretched to three matches.

“We conceded an early goal which was bad for our confidence,” said Lavicka. “In the first half we didn’t have good movement off the ball.”

“At half-time we made some changes and in the second half we definitely improved.”

“If we want to pick up points we need to be more consistent and play not only for 45. We need to play for 90 minutes. We need to now start with the basics.”

“We have to believe in ourselves and our confidence can pick up bit by bit.”

“Maybe one goal, one good performance, one good win can turn things and we can start to be successful again.”

“I think the boys are good enough physically, our main problem at the moment is up here (in the mind).”