Frustrated Central Coast coach Alen Stajcic says the Mariners have been unlucky at times this A-League season, but they need to make their own luck too.
The 10th-placed Mariners copped a 1-0 loss to Brisbane at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday night off a late own goal in the 86th minute.
It was a stinging loss for Stajcic, who watched his team take several shots without glory, including a header by Daniel De Silva that hit the posts.
"We just need that little bit of extra quality, make our own luck a little bit more in those critical moments. It's not too dissimilar to the last few weeks," a disappointed Stajcic said after the game.
"That's nine times we've hit the posts this year, you don't get points for that.
"We've had a bit of bad luck, but we've also made our own bad luck and haven't made enough of our own good luck. We haven't been positive enough and had enough quality in key areas in and around the penalty box and that's what wins and loses matches."
The Mariners have now lost two games in a row after a 3-0 loss to Western United in round 15, but the most frustrating part for Stajcic is the lack of polish in key moments.
It's what he says is letting the team down this season.
"We need to be better in those key moments, if you can't score goals and can't execute a play in the final third then it just makes it harder to score," he said.
"I was really happy with the effort, I was really happy with the control of the game, there was lots of good moments, but it's just that finishing quality that has deserted us for the moment."
Currently 10th on the ladder, the Mariners will have another home game against Western Sydney on Sunday.
It will be the first for caretaker coach Jean Paul De Marigny after the axing of Markus Babbel.