Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Nathan Coe has brushed aside talk about the North Sydney Oval surface saying the focus for his side is getting the points at the historic venue on Friday night when they face Central Coast Mariners.
Coe insisted that the state of the North Sydney pitch will not provide the visitors with any excuses.
“Definitely not, both teams have to play on the same field,” he said when asked about the picturesque former home ground of NSL club Northern Spirit, a venue traditionally used for cricket matches.
“We’ve both got the same ball, we’ve both got the same objectives – to score and win the game.
“I think it’s going to be a tough game. The Mariners are a good side. They’ve been a strong side for as long as I can remember.
“They’d like to do a bit better than they have been doing.”
Coe has kept three clean sheets in the last five games for Victory.
Much of the credit must go to club stalwart Leigh Broxham, nominally a hard-working midfielder but earning rave reviews – and getting on the scoresheet – as a makeshift centre-back during the continuing absence of Matthieu Delpierre.
However, with young centre-back Nick Ansell back in action and Delpierre nearing a return to fitness, Broxham’s recent heroics may not be enough to keep him in the side permanently.
“I don’t know if anyone’s un-droppable,” Coe said.
“He’s certainly done a fantastic job for us. It makes Musky’s job harder and he’s made my job easier. Broxie’s been fantastic.”
