Part of an unwanted piece of history last weekend, Macarthur midfielder Charles M'Mombwa has no lack of motivation to perform in Saturday's A-League Men's clash with leaders Melbourne City.
M'Mombwa was one of three Bulls players, alongside Aleksandar Jovanovic and Moudi Najjar, substituted out of last weekend's 4-2 loss to Central Coast by coach Ante Milicic just half an hour into the game.
It was the earliest triple subsitution in national league history and a humbling experience for the 24-year-old.
"The coach makes the calls and he thought that was the best call in that moment," M'Mombwa told AAP.
"That's just something we've got to wear as players I guess.
"Those three subs that were taken off we knew that maybe that wasn't the best performances that we're capable of giving to the team and helping the team win.
"Definitely we've come into training this week with a new focus, if given the opportunity this weekend, to do better than we did. Definitely it's a little bit of added motivation going into this weekend."
Trailing 1-0 when the substitutions happened, the Bulls equalised through Adrian Mariappa but were blown away in the second half by a rampant Mariners to slump to defeat.
That loss left Macarthur fourth on the ladder but Milicic's team have now suffered three defeats in their past four matches, conceding 11 goals in that time.
City, who stretched their unbeaten run to eight games with a 2-1 win over Brisbane on Wednesday, inflicted one of those losses - a 3-1 victory over the Bulls at AAMI Park earlier this month.
M'Mombwa is welcoming the challenge of bouncing back against the champions, albeit a City side without Socceroos quartet Jamie Maclaren, Connor Metcalfe, Mathew Leckie and Marco Tilio while captain Scott Jamieson (back) is also in doubt for the visitors.
"It's always good to be playing against the top teams like this, because they always bring the best out of the opposition teams," M'Mombwa said.
"We didn't have a very great home record last year but this year it feels like we're really making it a fortress.
"We've won pretty much all our home games this year. Hopefully we can continue that form at home and get the three points."
