Hyundai A-League preview: Jets v Mariners

Saturday is Derby Day in NSW with a Big Blue and an F3 when Jets host Mariners. Both sides have a fresh feel this season but the animosity remains in this the latest instalment of #F3Derby history.

MATCH DETAILS

Saturday, 14 November 2015

Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners

Hunter Stadium, Newcastle

Kick-Off: 5:15 PM (Local) (5:15 PM (AEDT))

Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones

Assistant Referee 1: Ryan Gallagher

Assistant Referee 2: Lance Greenshields

Fourth Official: Trent Nash

TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 5.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)

Radio Broadcast: Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live. Coast FM 96.3 (Central Coast)

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #NEWvCCM

To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets

Newcastle Jets squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (Gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 6.Cameron WATSON, 7.Enver ALIVODIC, 8.Mateo POLJAK, 9.Milos TRIFUNOVIC, 10.LEONARDO, 13.Lee KI-JE, 14.Mitch COOPER, 17.Radovan PAVICEVIC, 20.Ben KENNEDY (Gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.David CARNEY, 24.Nicholas COWBURN, 25.Brandon LUNDY, 29.Andrew PAWIAK

**One to be omitted**

Ins: 25.Brandon LUNDY (promoted), 29.Andrew PAWIAK (promoted)

Outs: 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI (calf – 1 week)

Unavailable: 2.Daniel MULLEN (knee – indefinite), 11.Labinot HALITI (knee – indefinite)

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Paul IZZO (GK), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Josh ROSE, 4.Jacob POSCOLIERO, 6.Mitch AUSTIN, 8.Nick MONTGOMERY (c), 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Anthony CACERES, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 14.Daniel HEFFERNAN, 15.Matthew SIM, 16.Liam ROSE, 19.Josh BINGHAM, 20.Anthony KALIK, 21.Michael NEILL, 22.Jake McGING, 24.Jake ADELSON, 30.Adam PEARCE (GK)

**Two to be omitted**

Ins: 11.Nick FITZGERALD (return from suspension), 15.Matthew SIM (promoted), 21.Michael NEILL (promoted), 24.Jake ADELSON (promoted)

Outs: 7.Fabio FERREIRA (hamstring – 3 weeks), 23.Eddy BOSNAR (contract terminated)

Unavailable: 5.Harry ASCROFT (wrist – 2 weeks), 18.Glen TRIFIRO (back – 6 weeks)

BLUFFER’S GUIDE

Happily, this F3 Derby – the 36^th in its history – feels like a reboot.  

Jets (in third place heading into Round 6) have restored order and look a decent unit under youthful new gaffer Scott Miller.

While the Mariners (eighth) are now the league’s ‘all-guns-a-blazin’ attack merchants under Tony Walmsley.

With this as the backdrop, both sides are vastly different to previous versions, giving this derby a fresh feel. But the rancour lingers. 

Expect all-out attack from the visitors and an organized home side looking to hurt on transition.

For the Jets, last week’s loss to Wanderers was a bump in the road of a stunning season so far. For their part, the Mariners need points to stay in touch.

No central midfielder Ben Kantarovski for the home side but equally the Mariners will miss winger Fabio Ferreira.

Both big outs but it offers others a chance to show themselves on the pristine Hunter Stadium surface.

It all points to an entertaining F3. Add some spite and bite in the tackles and this looms as a belter with a win for either giving first F3 bragging rights of Season 11. 

OPTA DATA

• The Jets have only lost once against the Mariners in the last six league home matches (W2 D3), with both clubs sharing the points in the previous three.
• No team has conceded more headed goals in the A-League than Central Coast (3).
• In contrast, no team has scored more headed goals than the Newcastle Jets (3).
• The Mariners are currently on their worst ever away streak in the A-League having lost their last seven consecutive matches.
• The Jets haven’t been involved in a game that has ended in a draw since February – 13 games previous (W5 L8).
• No player has made more tackles in the league this season than Mariners captain Nick Montgomery (20)

ROUTE TO GOAL

Walmsley’s take no prisoners attacking ethos ensures the fans should enjoy the spectacle a little more than last season’s dour fare.

And that attack relies heavily on width supplying central striker Roy O’Donovan. The Irishman however will have big Nigel Boogaard on his case. Should be a huge match up. The Irish striker knows about big games and has a handy knack of being in the right place at the right time.

The side that wins the battle of the flanks will have a huge advantage.  Can the Mariners wingers push back the Jets’ full backs? Or can Li Ki-je and co push the yellow shirted wingers back and win the war on the flanks.

WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?

John Hutchinson. This F3 has the usual local spice whipped up in the press by the Jets’ pantomime villain ‘Hutch’, now in the dugout as a Mariners assistant. His ‘wooden spoon’ observation was cutting.

NEWS: Hutch’s ‘wooden spoon’ Jets jibe ahead of F3 derby

FORM LINES

Newcastle Jets: WLWWL

Central Coast: WLLLD

PREDICTION

Newcastle Jets 2 Central Coast 2