Newcastle Jets have come away from their trip to Suncorp Stadium with just their second point on the road this season, but after clinging on for a 1-1 all draw against a dominant Brisbane Roar, coach Branko Culina says it never feels good to lose a lead.
After positive steps were taken over the last couple of weeks to secure their continued place in the Hyundai A-League, Culina said the Jets were starting fresh and that beating the Roar would have been a great new beginning.
“When you lead for most of the game and then concede a goal that late and also probably from something that you could have defended a little bit better you’re disappointed.”
“They played quite well, had some chances, and our goalkeeper was outstanding, but I thought we defended very well and tactically, particularly in the first half, we played very well.”
“Today I said to the players that it’s a new beginning for us, a new season starts today with the ownership resolved and the club moving forward in a positive way and I think the best is certainly yet to come,” he said.
Culina’s optimism is so strong that he suggested that the second-placed Roar would be more pleased than the Jets with the two drawn games between the clubs this season.
“I think it should give them confidence knowing that they’ve been able to get results against us where normally I think we’ve given them a real hard time,” Culina said.
“Last year we beat them and we drew, so they’re probably more pleased than we are.”
The Jets coach was also quick to remind that his side was playing undermanned and that with key returns in the coming weeks, they were capable of rapid and dramatic improvement as well as a big surge up the ladder.
Having returned from a 21-day lay-off to face the Roar, the Jets will spend another nine days in wait before taking on the North Queensland Fury in a favourable run of four straight home games.
“I’m very optimistic, very positive and very pleased with the way we’re coming along,” Culina said.
“It’s like a new season for us with everything that’s happened, therefore it might not be such a bad thing (to have a nine-day break), because we’re building up and having two games at home coming up it gives us a real chance to make an impact.”
“With what the clubs got planned, those two home games promise to be really exciting and I think it will spur the players on, and if we can get maximum points we won’t be too far off the top four.”
