Melbourne City cannot afford to drop points and lose sight of leaders Sydney FC when Erick Mombaerts’ side play host to Newcastle Jets this Saturday evening (7.30pm kick off AEDT).
The gap between second-placed City and front-runners Sydney stands at 13 points following Melbourne’s 2-2 draw with Brisbane Roar last time out and the margin for error is diminishing by the weekend for the club from Bundoora.
City will be desperate to return to winning ways and build momentum once more, but Newcastle Jets may prove tricky customers.
Interim coach Craig Deans’ side were resurgent in their 2-1 defeat to Sydney last Friday, a much-improved display from the Hunter Valley club in the wake of ex-coach Ernie Merrick’s sacking.
The re-energised Jets will fancy their chances claiming a result and exposing a City defence that has leaked 22 goals this season. Only Newcastle themselves have conceded more.
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Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets
Saturday, 18 January 2020
AAMI Park
Kick off: 7.30pm AEDT
Broadcast: FOX Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
ROUND 15: How to watch Hyundai A-League Round 15
ROUND 14: Team of the Week
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Team news
Melbourne City FC squad: 3.Scott JAMIESON (c), 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 10.Florin BERENGUER 11.Craig NOONE, 13.Nathaniel ATKINSON, 14.Markel SUSAETA 19.Lachlan WALES, 20.Adrian LUNA, 22.Curtis GOOD, 23.Dean BOUZANIS (gk), 30.Moudi NAJJAR, 36.Kerrin STOKES, 37.Gianluca IANNUCCI, 38.Yaya DUKULY, 39.Idrus ABDULAHI, 46.Joe GAUCI (gk), 49.Stefan COLAKOVSKI
**2-3 to be omitted**
Ins: 4.Harrison DELBRIDGE (returns from suspension), 14.Markel SUSAETA (new signing), 37.Gianluca IANNUCCI (promoted)
Outs: 2.Scott GALLOWAY (ankle)
Unavailable: 1.Tom GLOVER (gk) (international duty),17.Denis GENREAU (international duty), 21.Ramy NAJJARINE (international duty), 34.Connor METCALFE (international duty), 40.Richard WINDBICHLER (hamstring)
Newcastle Jets squad: 2.Bobby BURNS, 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 9.Abdiel ARROYO, 10.Dimi PETRATOS, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 14.Kaine SHEPPARD, 16.Matt MILLAR, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 19.Kosta PETRATOS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 25.Jack SIMMONS, 28.Pat LANGLOIS, 31.Maki PETRATOS, 32.Angus THURGATE, 40.Noah JAMES (gk), 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
**1-3 to be omitted**
Ins: 31.Maki PETRATOS (promoted), 40.Noah JAMES (promoted)
Outs: 1.Glen MOSS (calf – 4-6 weeks)
Unavailable: 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (adductor – 1-2 weeks), 8.Wes HOOLAHAN (ankle – 6 weeks)
Did you know?
- Melbourne City have won six of their last nine Hyundai A-League matches against the Newcastle Jets (drawn one, lost two), and have averaged 2.4 goals in that time.
- Melbourne City have lost two of their last three Hyundai A-League matches at AAMI Park (with one win), as many defeats as they picked up in their 20 games prior at the venue (won 13, drawn five)
- Melbourne City are the only team to have taken 200+ total shots (including blocks) this Hyundai A-League season, with 225. Their tally is 26 more than the next best side – Adelaide Untied (199).
- Newcastle Jets are winless in their last six Hyundai A-League matches (drawn one, lost five). The last time they endured a longer winless stretch was a 10-match run to finish the 2016/17 season.
- Jamie Maclaren has scored nine goals in 13 Hyundai A-League matches against Newcastle Jets. Only against Western Sydney Wanderers has he scored more in the competition (12).
