North Queensland Fury coach Ian Ferguson admits his team are back to where they were at the start of the season after losing 5-1 to the Central Coast Mariners on Saturday night.

The Fury were exposed defensively by a Mariners outfit that was without leading striker Matt Simon and Ferguson was extremely disappointed with the performance, particularly in the back half of the pitch.

''We're back to the old days at the beginning, we were all over the place defensively,'' Ferguson said.

''Going forward we create three or four really good chances, don't take them and the Mariners tonight were clinical in their finishing.

''But again . . . soft, soft goals and very, very disappointing."

Despite the heavy defeat, Ferguson was confident his charges had enough character to atone for the aberration.

''We've got good character in that dressing room, a good bunch of boys,'' Ferguson added.

''I know the scoreline looks a really bad scoreline but we have to let the boys know that on another night it could have been possibly 5-all or 5-4.

"It looks as though we took a hiding tonight and I think where we need to shore up everything is the silly mistakes we keep making.''

The Fury will get their chance for redemption when they take on Adelaide United at home on Saturday night.