CONFIDENT: Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulvey has eyes on the top six. Picture: Stuart Quinn Source: The Courier-Mail
BRISBANE coach Mike Mulvey is "very confident" the Roar will finish in the A-League top six, but they will only be making up the numbers in the finals series judging by yesterday's display against Central Coast.
The Mariners scored a 1-0 win in Gosford but could have led by five at halftime, such was their dominance over an outclassed Roar.
And while Brisbane slightly improved after halftime, any delusions Mulvey had that the Roar were good enough to beat the competition's best teams should have been quashed on the basis of yesterday's effort.
"It was ugly to watch," Mulvey admitted.
"It's disappointing because we came here hoping and expecting to do well."
With just eight wins from 25 matches this season, Brisbane don't deserve to play finals football.
But with mediocrity being rewarded with a finals series that involves 60 per cent of the competition, the Roar's top-six destiny remains in their hands.
If Brisbane beat Melbourne Heart and Sydney FC - who are also lucky to still be in finals contention - at home in their next two matches, they will contest the playoffs.
Even one win might be enough for the Roar after the weekend's results, which included Perth Glory's shock 2-1 home loss to cellar dwellers Wellington Phoenix yesterday.
"I'm very confident we'll qualify for the finals. It's not an over-confidence, it's just based on the facts," Mulvey said.
Brisbane remain in seventh spot on the ladder, two points behind fifth-placed Sydney and sixth-placed Newcastle Jets.
But the Jets have played one extra match and are not in action this weekend.
The Roar host the Heart on Sunday and will have to do without key defender Jade North, who will be in Socceroos camp ahead of Australia's World Cup qualifier against Oman tomorrow week.
North was part of a Brisbane defence that was run ragged in the first half yesterday by the Mariners, who scored the decisive goal in the 35th minute via Bernie Ibini.
Capitalising on some sloppy work by Roar midfielder Steve Lustica, who is somehow keeping Massimo Murdocca and Mitch Nichols out of the starting team, Ibini unleashed a left-foot strike that embarrassed Brisbane keeper Michael Theo at his near post.
It was harsh on Theo, who otherwise made three decisive first-half saves to keep his side in the contest.
The Roar's best chance came in the 62nd minute, but Dutchman Stef Nijland produced a weak shot that was dealt with by Mariners keeper Mat Ryan.
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