Craig Deans believes their performances over the past fortnight have buoyed them ahead of Saturday’s game against Adelaide.
Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets assistant coach Craig Deans is happy with the team-s progression but admits they have plenty of improvement left in them.
After a loss against Sydney FC in the opening round, the Jets have recorded three consecutive draws to sit one point outside the top six heading into Round 5.
The Jets put in a good performance against reigning champions Central Coast last weekend, but Deans was frustrated that the team didn-t close out the game after leading 2-0.
“Over the 90 minutes it-s probably the best we-ve played, obviously we had a little patch in the second half where we conceded the goals which was a bit disappointing,” he said.
“It-s always disappointing when you-ve got a lead and you let it slip and it feels little bit like you-ve lost the game, so it-s disappointing from that aspect.”
Despite missing the chance to record their first win of the season against the Mariners, Deans felt there were plenty of positives to take out of the match.
“The first 10 minutes was quite tough for us, but it was good to see we got through the hard part at the start,” he said.
“We took a fair bit of control of the game in that middle period, got a couple of goals and I think it gave the boys a bit of confidence.
“We scored a couple of goals, albeit one was a bit lucky but it was good pressure from our point of view, it-s just a matter of sticking to what-s been working.
“We just need to be positive and remain focused on individual jobs and jobs as a team, we-re not too far away from getting a win.”
Deans admitted it was a relief to finally score a goal after a frustrating opening three rounds without finding the back of the net.
“I think it was brilliant, if you look at the reaction when Scotty Neville scored, I think you see how much it meant to the players to score and to be in front,” he said.
“To be at home with the crowd which was fantastic on the weekend, their spirit is fantastic at the moment and they deserved more from the game.”
Deans felt the team were down on a bit of confidence at the start of the season but their performances over the past fortnight have buoyed them ahead of the game against Adelaide on Saturday night.
“We had a reasonably good pre-season but the competition itself is another level, so we need to build that confidence in the A-League, the weekend and the game in Wellington is a good start,” he said.
“I think we have to focus on what we-ve been doing well in the last couple of weeks especially, which has been working hard and pressuring people on the ball and not giving good players time to cause us damage.”
There is unlikely to be any major changes to the team which played the Mariners and Deans feels continuity within the squad is vital to achieve success.
“You have to reward players when their performing quite well and I think especially the last two weeks everyone that-s played has done a good job,” he said.
“To change people is not something that you want to do, so if we can keep some consistency to the team that would be the preference.
“The positive of having a reasonably strong squad this year that we don-t feel the impact of one player or two players as much as we have maybe in the past.”
