Will Booth 
Mikael Doka carries the ball for the Central Coast Mariners. Photo: Texi Smith
Central Coast Mariners faced a tough away trip to Adelaide following their midweek loss to Shanghai Port in the AFC Champions League, which saw them go down swinging against Kevin Muscat’s side.
On this occasion, their battle against Adelaide United saw the Mariners draw their second consecutive game in the league, after a stalemate with Melbourne Victory in round one.
The Mariners were perhaps lucky to come away from this game with a point however, with Adelaide slicing through the visibly sluggish side in the opening 45 minutes.
Bailey Brandtman coming into the starting line-up was the only change, and it was Vitor Feijao who made way for the youngster, with Feijao struggling to make an impact in the league so far.
Mariners coach Mark Jackson nodded towards fatigue as the reason the Mariners were slow out of the gates, but was quick to deny claims he was using it as an excuse for the performance.
“We dealt with that last year,” said Jackson.
“We have to deal with that when we compete in the Champions League.”
A double substitution at half-time seemed to reinvigorate the Mariners who were 1-0 down at the break, and Sabit Ngor was able to grab the equaliser off the bench, his maiden goal in the competition.
Along with some words of encouragement at the interval, Jackson was able to shift the side tactically in order to compress the space in midfield where Adelaide had created their most dangerous chances from.
“We tweaked the formation, put a couple of fresh legs on at half-time as well,” said Jackson.
“The shift in formation in the second half certainly helped us.”
Mikael Doka dropped from winger to wing-back in a shuffle that also saw Nathan Paull replacing Alou Kuol in what would turn into a three-at-the-back system, a change from the 4-4-2 that has been favoured throughout his tenure.
Jackson highlighted the usefulness of a player like Doka, who last season was able to put in shifts both in the attacking third and his own defensive third, depending on what the game called for at the time.
“What we do have is a versatile player in Mikael Doka, so we know he can shift from position to position within a game,” Jackson explained.
Jackson will have to test the depth in his side over this season, as he looks to replicate the winning formula he found during the treble winning campaign last year.
He has trust in the production line of the side, shown in the faith he put in 16-year-old Haine Eames, who earned his debut in round one and became the youngest player in the club’s history.
“We know what we have to work with, we know the challenges,” Jackson stated.
“We’ve got young players coming up through the academy, we’ve got young players in the squad who are going to make a difference and going to make a name for themselves.
“We have to replace the players, strong players, who have moved on.”
Hopes will be up as the Mariners take on a limping Perth Glory at home in round three, with the goal being nothing less than all three points against a side that have shipped eight goals in their two fixtures so far.