Central Coast coach Mark Jackson is challenging his players to be hungry after the defending champions horror start to the A-League Men season has continued with a 2-1 defeat to Brisbane.
Unable to execute in front of goal, the Mariners lost their fourth consecutive match of the season at Industree Group Stadium on Sunday.
Not since Brisbane started the 2014-15 campaign with four straight losses has a team opened their title defence in such a poor fashion.
All eyes were on the Mariners strikers to vindicate themselves after coach Mark Jackson put them on notice after the Perth Glory loss, saying he may need to bring in some new recruits if they don't start pulling their weight.
The Mariners have managed just one goal in the opening three rounds since the departure of star strikers Jason Cummings, Samuel Silvera and Beni Nkololo in the off-season.
"We lost a lot of goals and a lot of assists from three players but that's the past and we know where we are," Jackson said after the match.
"I believe in those (current) players but they're not firing at the minute.
"I've just challenged the strikers within the club now just to be hungry, for someone to take that mantle of 'I'm going to be the starting No.9, I'm going to get the goals and I'm going to do the work for the team' which is needed.
"They all have the potential to do well. They just need to step up to it."
Central Coast conceded first with the Roar's Nikola Mileusnic setting up Frenchman Florin Bérenguer for a right-foot shot in the 19th minute.
The goal was not without controversy, with the hosts disputing the ball had gone out before Mileusnic passed to Bérenguer.
After failing to overturn Bérenguer's goal, it was 22-year-old Alou Kuol who stood up to meet his coach's challenge and equalise with an open goal in the 31st minute.
The Mariners had a chance to build on their momentum after Christian Theoharous was gifted a penalty from a foul by Kai Trewin but it was quashed after a VAR check found Theoharous drew Trewin into the contest.
Trewin then gave a great response, setting up a goal for Thomas Waddingham in added time while Theoharous was shown the yellow card.
Brisbane were down to 10 men in the second half after Joe Caletti received his second yellow card for shouldering Kuol.
The Mariners also lost fresh substitute Harrison Steele to a red card after the Central Coast academy product raised his studs against Jay O'Shea's shin.
Dylan Wenzel-Halls gave the Mariners the goal they desperately needed but it was overturned upon finding the ball had left the field of play before it was passed by Jacob Farrell.
Another opportunity went begging for Central Coast, with Marco Túlio failing to convert a free kick gifted from a foul by Brisbane's Scott Neville.
The return to winning form is welcomed by Brisbane after hitting their first speed bump of the season with a 5-2 defeat in Wellington last round.
