Newcastle Jets have stretched their unbeaten streak to six games and have moved into the top six for the first time this season after overcoming the early send off of Jobe Wheelhouse to defeat Melbourne Heart 2-0 at AAMI Park.
Wheelhouse was shown a red card in just the eighth minute after a clash with Aziz Behich, but the fact they were a man down and were coming off a trip to Townsville did not deter the Jets.
Ex-Arsenal and Everton star Francis Jeffers scored one goal, on 12 minutes, and set-up a second for Marko Jesic six minutes later to put the Jets in firm control of the match. They failed to have a shot on goal after that point.
Heart had a multitude of chances to rescue something from the game, especially in the second half where Jets keeper Matthew Nash, playing just his second game for the club, pulled off several spectacular saves.
The Heart’s long run of outs continues and they have now picked up just one point out of the past 18, slipping to seventh ahead of Saturday’s derby against Victory.
The frustration was evident for a home side, who tried everything they could to put the ball in the back of the net – with 25 shots to just two – but have now gone 439 minutes without a goal.
Their fortunes are in stark contrast to the Jets, who after going a long period without an away win have now chalked up two in the space of four days. They move into fifth on the table and are starting to hit top form at the right time of the season.
They return home to play Gold Coast United next Wednesday, looking to consolidate their spot in the race for the finals.
The first moment of note in the match was a flashpoint after a coming together between Wheelhouse and Behich in the seventh minute. Behich was left holding his head, while Wheelhouse was shown a red card by referee Alan Milliner.
However, it was the Jets who bossed the game from that point and when Clint Bolton failed to handle a Kasey Wehrman corner, the ball fell to Jeffers, who controlled the ball and threaded it between the defenders and into the net.
A few minutes later Jeffers collided with Colosimo and the Heart skipper was forced from the field to patch up a bloodied eye. The Jets took advantage of his absence and three minutes later, Jeffers put a long through ball for Jesic to run onto.
An advancing Bolton proved no obstacle, and Jesic cleverly beat him with a curled shot which embarrassed the Heart keeper.
Stunned by a 2-0 deficit despite having a man advantage, Heart coach John van ‘t Schip called on Justin Hoffman at the expense of Brendan Hamill. Almost immediately, the home side looked more dangerous.
The Heart’s best chance of the half came in the final seconds when Behich’s effort was parried by Matthew Nash, while Matt Thompson’s effort was saved.
The second half produced a seemingly endless procession of Heart attacking chances. Adrian Zahra’s header was saved on 50th minute, Gerald Sibon headed the ball over the top, Nick Kalmar had an effort parried and Hoffman misfired wide in the space of ten minutes.
Worse was to come for the home side as Nikolai Topor Stanley cleared another Zahra effort, Sibon and Kalmar had further shots saved by Nash and then Worm rattled the woodwork.
The Jets defence somehow held form despite the barrage, with Nash particularly impressive, and they are now one of the form teams of competition.
Melbourne Heart 0
Newcastle Jets 2 (Jeffers 12, Jesic 18)
Crowd: 2754 at AAMI Park
