Reds keen to end poor Gosford run

Adelaide United will have to avoid a seventh successive defeat in Gosford on Friday night if they are to maintain their unbeaten start to the A-League season.

The Reds haven’t won at Industree Group Stadium since beating Central Coast 3-1 at the venue in November 2019.

Since then, Adelaide has lost six straight A-League games in Gosford, conceding 15 goals in those half-a-dozen defeats.

“We haven’t really looked at our past record (against the Mariners),” Reds coach Carl Veart said on Thursday

“We know they’re a good side, and we have to get our game plan right.”

It’s a “game plan” that has largely worked so far this season, with Adelaide having picked up 14 points from a possible 18 in its unbeaten start.

However, Friday night’s arguably looms as the toughest of the season for the Reds, who are yet to play any of the other five teams currently sitting in the top six with them.

After a slow start, reigning champions Central Coast have moved up to seventh on the ladder, and will aim for a third consecutive A-League win on Friday night.

“We know it’s going to be a difficult game for us,” Veart said.

“They had a difficult start with a lot of injuries and travel due to the (AFC Champions League Elite competition) but they’re getting their confidence back, and we know we need to be at our best to get the three points.”

“We’re very happy with our performances, but there’s still a lot of work to go, and a lot of improvement in the side to come as well.

“We’re happy so far, but we’ve still got a long way to go.”

“We have high expectations. We want to be playing in the finals. We missed out last (season), so it’s important we get back there.”

Veart praised the defensive nous and composure that Dutch recruit Bart Vriends had brought to the Reds.

“It’s just taken a little bit of time for Bart to settle into the A-League, but we’ve seen great improvement from him every week,” the Adelaide coach said.

With winger Ben Folami suspended after being sent off in last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle, Austin Ayoubi looms as a potential starter against the Mariners.

“Austin started the season really well. The last couple of weeks he’s been on the bench, so, he’ll be nice and fresh, and he knows what to do when he comes into those positions,” Veart said.

“We’ve got a lot of players that can come into the squad, so we’re in a good place at this moment in time.”