For Newcastle Jets, it’s their final home game of a roller-coaster season. Can Scott Miller’s men halt the Glory juggernaut? Or will they sign off in style in front of the Hunter faithful?
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Saturday, 26 March 2016
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-Off:Â 5:15 PM (Local) (5:15 PM (AEDT))
Referee:Â Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referee 1:Â Ryan Gallagher
Assistant Referee 2:Â Kearney Robinson
Fourth Official:Â Trent Nash
TV Broadcast:Â Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.00pm (AEDT) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #NEWvPER
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets
Newcastle Jets squad:Â 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Cameron WATSON, 7.Enver ALIVODIC, 8.Mateo POLJAK, 9.Milos TRIFUNOVIC, 10.LEONARDO, 12.Andy BRENNAN, 14.Mitch COOPER, 16.Steven UGARKOVIC, 17.Radovan PAVICEVIC, 19.Morten NORDSTRAND, 20.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 24.Nicholas COWBURN, 28.Ryan KITTO
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 12.Andy BRENNAN (promoted), 14.Mitch COOPER (promoted), 17. Radovan PAVICEVIC (promoted)
Outs: 2.Daniel MULLEN (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: 11.Labinot HALITI (knee – season)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Marc WARREN, 4.Shane LOWRY, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Gyorgy SANDOR, 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA, 12.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 21.Kosta PETRATOS, 23.Kristian VADOCZ, 24.Jamal REINERS, 29.Aryn WILLIAMS
**two to be omitted**
Ins:Â 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC (returns from injury), 13.Diogo FERREIRA (promoted), 29.Aryn WILLIAMS (promoted)
Outs: 19.Josh RISDON (international duty – 1 week)
Unavailable: 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite)
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
Last weekend’s draw all but ruled Newcastle out of the finals reckoning, though the Jets dominated Victory before being reduced to 10 men in a morale boosting 1-1 result.
While Newcastle remain the Big V’s bogey side there’s no doubt Glory have been the Jets’ kryptonite of late.
Kenny Lowe’s side has won seven straight in this fixture and are unbeaten in the last 13 match-ups dating back to Round 5 in 2011.
On top of that, Glory are on a roll, having claimed eight of their last nine to surge into the top six.
The WA club are just five points from the summit and with a reasonable run home they’ll have their eyes on a home Elimination Final or even a top two finish.
However, Josh Risdon misses the clash due to Caltex Socceroos duty, which should see Richard Garcia reclaim the armband, while set-piece guru Nebojsa Marinkovic is back from injury.
Jet Daniel Mullen will miss the clash due to his red card last week which will once again force a re-jigged backline for the home side.
OPTA DATA
- Newcastle have won two of their last three matches at Hunter Stadium though were narrowly beaten 1-0 by the Wanderers last time out.
- Perth Glory have won their last seven matches against Newcastle and are undefeated against them dating back to Round 5, 2011 (13 matches).
- Perth Glory have outscored the Jets 17-3 in their last eight encounters, keeping five clean sheets in the process.
ROUTE TO GOAL
Ryan Kitto showed great determination to net just his second-ever Hyundai  A-League goal last weekend and looks set to be rewarded with another chance up front for the Jets.
Scott Miller perhaps would have liked to bring Milos Trifunovic on as a sub against Victory but had to rethink his tactics after Mullen’s dismissal.
Danish forward Morten Nordstrand will no doubt be keen to get back among the goals while Leonardo has been a constant threat having strung some eye-catching displays together in recent weeks.Â
Perth have amassed a stunning 17 goals in their last six matches – just five fewer than Newcastle have managed all season.
Frontman Andy Keogh has found the back of the net in every one of these clashes and can go into the record books if he makes it seven on the trot.
Diego Castro continues to mesmerize defences and Chris Harold showed his electric turn of speed in the win over Phoenix last week.Â
In short, it’s a front line in fine fettle.Â
Richard Garcia has been in good form down the left flank after forcing his way back into the starting side, while Kenny Lowe might look to hand more minutes to young guns Jamal Reiners and Kosta Petratos.
FORM LINES
Newcastle Jets: WWLLD
Perth Glory: WLWWW
PREDICTION
Newcastle Jets 1 Perth Glory 3
