Defensive errors cost us – Central Coast’s McKinna

Central Coast Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna has identified basic defensive errors as the main reason for the 3-1 loss to Perth Glory yesterday.

McKinna was brutal after the match, saying his players were like under 10s and that all the preparation from the coaching staff basically went out the window.

“You wouldn't expect those mistakes in an under-10 team you know," McKinna said. "They were basic mistakes.

"You know you can prepare all you want, you can have everyone looking good on the whiteboard but you can't make basic mistakes like that."

The performance was a far cry from what the Mariners produced earlier in the season, especially defensively, and McKinna was at a loss to explain why the team had turned their form around so dramatically.

"We've gone from having the best defensive record in the league to hopping goals that are just not good enough,” he added.

"That was a game we couldn't rely on anyone else, we had to go and win that game and to start off, not even in the first minute and you're down 1-0.

"Obviously the momentum of that gives Perth a boost, puts us on the backfoot.

"We've still got 90 minutes to come back in it and then to do it again, concede another.

"It just knocks the stuffing right out of you early ... I don't think there's any cure for giving away goals like that."