The Mariners now know that the off-season loss of defensive stalwart and club captain Alex Wilkinson does not mean the Coast will start leaking goals.
Slotting into the familiar back line alongside the likes of Patrick Zwaanswijk, Josh Rose and Pedj Bojic, Trent Sainsbury was the clear player of the match. Sainsbury’s work rate was excellent and it was his magnificent deep pass to Daniel McBreen that allowed the Mariners to take the points from the heated match.
Coach Graham Arnold said that Sainsbury was well suited to replace Wilkinson and was delighted with the young player’s effort in the match.
“A lot of people were worried and concerned when we lost Alex Wilkinson but I have a lot of faith in Australian youngsters and Trent Sainsbury who has been with us for two years has had to sit back and be patient. He has learnt the ropes off ‘Wilko’ (Wilkinson) and Patrick (Zwaanswijk) and I thought today he was superb,” he said.
“Last week was probably a five and today was about a six (out of ten),” Arnold said. “We can do much better and we have to do much better. The standard of the A-League is going up and we need to go up with it.”
“I don’t want us to be in form in October, we weren’t last year. We build into the season and it’s important that we’re fit and we grind out results and we’re strong defensively.”
“Next week we will have to go up another couple of levels because I thought Newcastle were very good last night against Sydney in a wonderful spectacle. It’s still a work in progress and we will only get better.” Arnold said.
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