Central Coast Mariners coach reveals team used ‘undignified’ talk by Adelaide Reds as fuel to win

Central Coast coach Nick Montgomery has warned naysayers to write off his side at their peril after the Mariners set up an A-League Men’s grand final with Melbourne City.

The Mariners achieved their first decider in a decade with a 2-0 victory over Adelaide United at Gosford on Saturday night, winning the two-legged semi-final 4-1 and securing an appointment with the three-time defending ALM Prime Ministers at Commbank Stadium on 3 June.

“There will be a fight between David and Goliath in two weeks, but we’re looking forward to it,” Montgomery told reporters.

“We can’t wait to walk out and whatever happens that night, we’ll do everything we can.

“We know we can beat anyone, so we’re going in with confidence and trying to win the game against a really good Melbourne City team.”

Central Coast coach Nick Montgomery (pictured) says his side used the Adelaide Reds’ talk as fuel to score the huge upset

Saturday marked the third time in as many games that the Mariners had beaten the Reds, preceded by a 2-1 victory in the first leg and a 4-1 thump in the final week of the regular season.

And Montgomery admitted that alleged attempts by their opponents to downplay that form guide had provided some extra motivation for his side.

“They had to come here to win, they were desperate,” he said.

“We wanted revenge because there has been a lot of talk from Adelaide in recent weeks.

“There are a number of ways to lose. You can lose with dignity and accept being beaten by the better team, or you can make excuses.

“And there have been a lot of excuses over the past few weeks.

‘I was silent, we were silent.

“I said to the boys, let your football speak.

It was the third time in as many games that the Mariners had beaten the Reds

The Mariners’ run to the Grand Finals was a David and Goliath effort that proves the side is light years away from the outfit that collected four wooden spoons in five seasons in 2019-20

“I don’t think anyone can think other than we deserved to make it to the grand final.”

After finishing the regular season in second place, Saturday’s progression continues a remarkable turnaround in the Mariners’ fortunes.

In 2019-20, the same season as City began their streak of four straight Grand Finals, the Mariners recorded their fourth wooden spoon in five seasons.

But in an unprecedented turn of fortunes in the three campaigns since then, the Mariners have won more games than any ALM side other than City and have played finals every year.

“Even when we came in tonight, people still doubted us,” Montgomery said.

“I think it’s a bit strange, but that’s football.

“For everyone tonight, for the fans and the community, I told the boys before the game that they have not only boosted a club, but also a community and a region.”