Central Coast Mariners coach Graham Arnold unfazed by his side's slow start to the season Central Coast Mariners coach Graham Arnold at training. Picture: Mark Scott. CENTRAL Coast coach Graham Arnold is confident his side's championship defence will hit top gear within a month after another two-goal escape act on the road. The 2012-13 grand final winners kept the Newcastle Jets winless after four rounds with a 2-2 draw at Hunter Stadium on Saturday night. Scott Neville scored from a goal-mouth scramble and Mariners keeper Justin Pasfield handed the Jets their second with an embarrassing miss off a back-pass. But the visitors were able to get out of jail with a Marcos Flores penalty from a Connor Chapman handball and a Mile Sterjovski goal off a crossbar rebound. The result left them mid-table on six points and came a fortnight after two second-half penalties helped them steal a 2-2 away draw with Melbourne Heart. Although far from happy about his side conceding soft goals, Arnold believed the Mariners" title defence was on track. "We always start slow," Arnold said. We do our pre-season different to other teams - we try to build into the season. You could see a few of our boys cramping towards the back end of the game so, in another three or four weeks, we'll hit our straps. Helping the cause will be the return of last season's Golden Boot Daniel McBreen from a stint in China. He was back in time for Saturday night's derby but will make his comeback for Central Coast at home next Sunday against Brisbane Roar. "Daniel McBreen came back this week and he gives more leadership on the field," Arnold said.