It’s set to be a midweek thriller at EnergyAustralia Stadium, as Jets look to upset the form book
EnergyAustralia Stadium
It-s set to be a midweek thriller at EnergyAustralia Stadium, as Jets look to upset the form book by beating high-flying Brisbane Roar.
The tough games just keep on coming for Newcastle Jets. After the derby at Sydney Football Stadium came a home game with Adelaide United and now the prospect of a midweek encounter with Brisbane Roar beckons. It-s up to The Squadron to, once again, get fully behind their side as they look to turn their season around.
Still, Newcastle can go into the game boasting an unbeaten record against Roar in the two games the sides have played so far this season. A 0-0 stalemate at EnergyAustralia Stadium in Week 5 was followed by a hugely impressive 1-1 draw five weeks later at Suncorp. As has been the story all season, had they a bit more firepower up front, they could have even nicked wins in either of those games.
While Jets are looking to the experience of Francis Jeffers to help them boost their meagre strike record, the continued progress of young Newcastle Jets attacker Kaz Patafta shows that they are also looking to build for the future.
The 22-year-old Patafta made his debut appearance for the Jets this season from the bench in last week’s match against Melbourne Heart after recovering from a pre-season injury and will be looking to get amongst the goals and help lift his side up the ladder.
Brisbane Roar-s magnificent football so far in the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season has helped push boss Ange Postecoglou closer to becoming the most successful coach in Australian national league history. In the 158 matches he coached before the weekend-s clash with Melbourne Heart, (including 127 matches with South Melbourne), Postecoglou has won 79, a winning ratio of exactly half.
Only one other coach with 100 national league games experience has a higher winning ratio percent: Eddie Thomson (51.1 percent at Sydney City and Sydney Olympic).
The head-to-head between these two sides is quite extraordinary, in that home advantage seems to mean very little. Of the nine clashes between the sides in Newcastle, the Jets have only won once, while Roar have triumphed five times.
Conversely, over the teams- nine meetings in Brisbane, Roar only have one win to their name, while Jets have beaten them six times. Roar fans will be hoping that this quirk continues on Wednesday, and that it is the away team that comes away with the points and continues their push for silverware. If they are to win though, they-ll have to do it without Matt McKay, who will be away with the Socceroos squad in Egypt.
Can Jets pick up a rare home win against the pace-setters, or will Brisbane-s free-flowing football prove too much for the strugglers? Find out by securing a ticket today, and get ready for some fast-paced Hyundai A-League action under the lights on Wednesday night. Don-t miss out on what is sure to be a belter of a game!
