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Coach Mark Jackson has only recently worked out his Central Coast Mariners made it through December unbeaten.
Now, the Mariners are vying to continue the run into the new year with their sternest test yet – an away clash against third-placed Western Sydney Wanderers.
The reigning A-League Men champions slumped to last on the ladder with four consecutive losses to start the season but have not tasted defeat since.
They have pieced together three wins and three draws in their last six games and moved into the top six for the first time this campaign on Sunday night.
With their 4-2 defeat of Perth Glory on New Year’s Eve, the Mariners confirmed an unbeaten December with the side’s last loss coming on November 12.
“You kind of go from game to game so I only got told about it (the December streak) afterwards,” Jackson said.
“It’s that old cliche that you take each game as it comes and that’s what we’ve been doing. We’ll continue to do that.
“But it’s a good recognition for what the boys have achieved. We’re in a good moment but we need to keep in that momentum and keep that strong focus going.”
Jackson has no specific new year’s resolutions for his Mariners, now one of the ALM’s form teams, but wants to see the side remain grounded.
“We just have to keep doing what we’re doing, we’ve always said we want to be consistent in how we work,” he said.
“When you go on a good run which we’re on at the moment, you have to stay focused and level headed.
“Nothing changes so we’re going to keep that mantra going with the players.”
Their focus now shifts to a miserly Wanderers side that has conceded the equal fewest goals of any team this season, bleeding only 11 across 10 games so far.
Ahead of Saturday night’s clash, Marko Rudan’s side has won four of six games at CommBank Stadium this season and kept clean sheets in four of those matches.
“They’re a really well-coached team,” Jackson said.
“We’re going to have to be really good out of possession, we’re going to have to show our quality with the ball as well.
“If we do that and bring our top game, it’s going to be an entertaining game hopefully.”
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