Arnie's 'miracle' A-League milestone game
  Story By Adrian Warren     

Friday, 19 January 2018: Graham Arnold has given his Sydney FC frontline a massive rap heading into the home clash with Central Coast, which is his 200th as an A-League coach.

Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold rates his frontline as probably the best in A-League history and senses the hunger in his team heading into a miracle milestone match for himself.

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On Saturday, the ladder-leading Sky Blues host Central Coast - the only club to beat them this season.

It will be Arnold's 200th game as an A-League coach.

"The universe sends miracles when it's my 200th game and I'm playing against the club I coached and I had a wonderful time up there for three-and-a-bit years," Arnold said.

"To come up against them tomorrow night in my 200th game will be a memory that I have forever."

That was about the only shred of sentiment Arnold displayed, as he looked for his side to recapture their usually prolific scoring touch.

The 2-0 loss to the Mariners in Gosford and last week's 0-0 away draw against Adelaide were the only games this season they had been held goalless.

They have picked up 29 points out of 33 since their one defeat and are averaging almost two-and-a-half goals a game across the season.

He pointed to the potency of his front four, Brazilian Bobo, the league's leading scorer with 15, Polish international Adrian Mierzejewski, captain Alex Brosque and reigning Johnny Warren Medallist Milos Ninkovic.

"Our front four is, for me, probably the greatest frontline in A-League history," Arnold said.

"In the last seven games scoring 23 goals is a great feat."

Mariners coach Paul Okon was bullish about his team's ability to contain the multiple threats they would face.

"I'm quite confident that our defence can cope," Okon said.

"You need to be brave when you go down to Allianz (Stadium). Sydney has got a very strong record there, so you need to turn up ready to work hard and I'm sure that the boys will do that.

"We enjoyed that victory (against them in Gosford), but we moved on pretty quickly and Sydney have improved since then."

Arnold said gaining revenge for the earlier loss hadn't been a topic of discussion this week, and he hadn't felt the need to look back or refer to that game.

"I really expect a great performance tomorrow night. I can see it in the eyes and faces of the boys that they are hungry," Arnold said.

He didn't rule out the club bolstering their roster in the remainder of the January transfer window.

STATS THAT MATTER:

* Sydney FC have won their past five games against the Mariners at Allianz Stadium and are undefeated in 24-straight home games

* The Mariners have won only one of their past 18 away games within NSW.

* Bobo has been directly involved in 20 goals this season (15 goals, five assists), seven more than any other player






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