They say the sign of a good team is one that can win when they are not playing well.
If that’s the case than Ernie Merrick should’ve been filled with more joy than was apparent after Newcastle Jets’ first win of thy Hyundai A-League season.
REPORT: Hoffman, Vargas strike to hand Jets first win
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However, the Jets boss was in a reflective mood after his side’s 2-0 victory at Western Sydney Wanderers during rebel Female Football Round, offering sympathy for his opposite number.
“I really feel for Markus Babbel,” he said. “He’s come from Germany, the Bundesliga, he’s played for Liverpool, a wonderful player in his career, played for Germany.
“He’s had to suffer the VAR, a red card and then he’s had to play on a pitch like that.
“It’s tough for them and, by the way, I thought they deserved something out of the game”
“I thought we played our worst football and we won. And a clean sheet as well, I couldn’t believe it.
“Really it was an even game, a bit scrappy because of the surface, but a win is a win.”
💬 HOFFMAN: "We weren't that happy with how we played to be honest. It was pretty scrappy but sometimes it doesn't matter. You need to get the ball rolling on the season and 3 points is 3 points." #WSWvNEW #ALeague #FemaleFootballRound
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) November 23, 2018
Western Sydney had both more shots and possession than their visitors but were made to pay for their lack of quality in the final third.
Babbel was in agreement that his side could have got something out of the game, but still spoke highly of their Friday night opponents.
“The boys definitely deserved more,” he said. “Over 50-60 minutes it was a really good style of football and we did many things right.
🎥 @NewcastleJetsFC claimed their first win of the season thanks to goals from Jason Hoffman and Ronny Vargas. Watch all the highlights. #ALeague #WSWvNEW #FemaleFootballRound https://t.co/vAls69Hn8X pic.twitter.com/l6QrHYRUNP
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) November 23, 2018
“We created chances but we couldn’t score and this has been a problem for us, that not many players can score a goal.
“We have to work on this but all of this is a process. If I see where we started to now, big improvement.
“We are frustrated at the moment but keep going because, what I said in the half-time, we have to believe we can hurt them, because it’s a good a side and for me, what I saw from them, the best side that we’ve played so far.”
