Newcastle Jets assistant coach Craig Deans says there is no excuse for his side not to break their horrible away form record when they take on Adelaide United on neutral ground in Bathurst.
Newcastle Jets assistant coach Craig Deans says there is no excuse for his side not to break their horrible away form record when they take on Adelaide United on neutral ground in Bathurst.
The Jets have not won away from home in over a year with their last away victory coming against the North Queensland Fury in January 2011.
But with the midweek fixture match being played at Carrington Park and with a fully fit squad, Deans believes the Jets should break their away game hoodoo.
“We have tried every other pitch in the country without much luck so maybe this is the catalyst we need,” Deans said.
“It will be an away game for Adelaide as well so there is no familiar ground advantage for either team so it really should be a matter of the best team on the night winning and we have to make sure that is us.”
“We have a full squad, there is not an injury throughout the whole club so there really is no excuse now, we need to make sure we start winning games.”
The Jets welcome back defender Tiago from suspension while former England striker Francis Jeffers also makes his return after a month on the sidelines with an ankle/heel injury and will bring some much needed spark to the Jets attack.
“We have an 18-man squad. Tiago comes back form suspension and Francis is back from his heel injury and we also brought James Virgili with us as well, so there are plenty of options,” Deans said.
“Francis (Jeffers) has been out for three weeks so it is unlikely that he is going to make the full 90 minutes so we will have to ease him back in.”
“He did a good job against Perth in his last game and if he can continue on where he left off in that game it would be great and with the other boys getting a bit of an understanding of each we will be in good stead.”
Deans said the atmosphere in Bathurst has been electric since the squad arrived in town on Monday and indicated the team is keen to show their wares to the country New South Wales crowd.
“It has been good. We have played up in Port Macquarie but it is good to come somewhere new like this,” he said.
“Lots of kids have come along to the signing and judging from the attendances at the coaching clinics and the word around town, we should get a good crowd on Wednesday night.”
“It is a really good ground. The pitch is on par with some of the A-League surfaces. There is a nice grandstand on one side and some grassy hills around the other ones.”
“So it is going to be fun not to play in a massive stadium as it will be a bit more intimate and great for the fans.”
