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Farina not going down without a fight

Sydney FC coach Frank Farina admits the club have yet to reassure him about his immediate future but insists he won’t go down without a fight.

The embattled Sky Blues alleviated some of the pressure mounting on Farina with a desperately-needed win over Perth last week to leave them just hanging onto sixth spot.

Frustrated fans have been calling for Farina’s head, with the coach set to be axed if Sydney don’t secure a top-four finish this season.

But while Farina says he talks to both chairman Scott Barlow and chief executive Tony Pignata daily, neither have promised he’ll even see out this campaign as Sky Blues coach.

“We’ve spoken about everything but people can’t reassure anything when you’re in the middle of a fight,” he said ahead of training on Thursday.

“When you’re in a fight you just fight.”

Asked what they expect of him for the remainder of the season Farina said: “To win football games, like I expect of myself and my team.

“It’s pretty simple, it’s not rocket science and there’s no hidden agendas or secret messages.

“Things calm down and the wolves stay away a little bit when you do well and get results.”

Farina confirmed playmaker Nick Carle, who missed last week’s clash with a groin injury, will sit out Saturday’s match against Newcastle but should be fit to play against the Central Coast the following round.

He insists he has buried the hatchet with both Carle and Matt Thompson after recently banishing them from first-team training.

“I’m not one to hold grudges,” he said.

“For me it’s over.”

A win at Hunter Stadium on Saturday could propel Sydney to third spot and with eight games remaining before the finals Farina is all too aware how important the three points will be.

“It’s probably the eye of the cyclone at the moment where it’s a bit calmer but we’re realistic and we know that nothing is a better tonic than three points,” he said.

Both centre-back Sasa Ognenovski and forward Terry Antonis will start again this week after both impressed against Perth.

Farina will also hand a debut to 19-year-old defender Themba Muata-Marlow.

“He’s quick, he’s mobile, good in the air and strong for a young player so he’ll start at right back,” Farina said.

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