Stajcic: Jair set to be unleashed against Sydney FC

Central Coast Mariners boss Alen Stajcic has hinted Brazilian recruit Jair could be available for the club’s next match against Sydney FC.

The Mariners pulled off a big coup last month by nabbing the former Newcastle Jets attacker to fill their final visa spot in the squad.

While Jair has yet to feature for the club as he builds up his fitness, Stajcic is hopeful his key recruit could be ready to go for the clubs next match in a fortnight.

The Mariners have the bye next weekend before a trip to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday, December 14 for a clash with Champions Sydney FC.

“He missed four months of pre-season so that makes it tough,” Stajcic said of Jair.

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“Obviously you’re playing catch-up all the way along and then when you pick up a little niggle you fall behind the pack a little bit more in terms of sharpness and fitness.

“He’s had a good two weeks of training now. We’ve got a bye next week and then we play Sydney the week after that so hopefully he can get through that two week block and hopefully he’s ready to go by the time we play Sydney.”

It would be a boost for the Mariners to have Jair available after they struggled to create chances in Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Brisbane Roar.

After their impressive 1-0 win over Western United last weekend, the Mariners boss was disappointed his troops were unable to back-up that display at Suncorp Stadium.

“I thought we were very poor out of the blocks and didn’t really adjust to the game at all well. They got a lot of momentum in that early period,” Stajcic said.

“I don’t think there was anyone imposing themselves and not enough desperation there certainly. With the game on the line, with 10-15 to go, I still feel we could have come back to have chances there and change the momentum in our favour.

“There just wasn’t enough energy and desperation in those times and that part was disappointing.”

After their Round 9 bye, Central Coast Mariners play away at Sydney FC on Saturday, 14 December. The match at Nestrata Jubilee Stadium kicks off at 7.30pm AEDT.
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Fowler: ‘We were in control’

Roar boss Robbie Fowler praised the performance of his side as they jumped into the top six with their second win of the campaign.

Striker Roy O’Donovan opened the scoring just after the hour-mark before a first Brisbane Roar goal for Scott Neville soon after made the points safe.

“I thought we controlled the game from start to finish. We had a good start and that’s been a question that’s been thrown at us this year, the way we have started games,” Fowler explained.

“But for me it’s how we finish the game. I wanto to finish it with goals and winning games, that’s the most important thing to me.  We had a good start, unfortunately we never scored but I thought we were the dominant team again.

“People are tending to make a big thing about [the way we] start games but I don’t think it’s all that bad.

“I think our performances this year, other than Wellington last week, we’ve been relatively good in most of them.”

Brisbane Roar travel to Sydney FC in Round 9, in a match played on Saturday, 7 December at 7.30pm AEDT at Netsrata Jubilee Stadium.
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