Can the Jets get their flight into the finals back on course? Squadron, sing your side to a vital victory on Friday night!
Can the Jets get their flight into the finals back on course? Squadron, sing your side to a vital victory on Friday night!
Following a hat-trick of phenomenal results, the Jets were grounded last week, so it is up to The Squadron to help them take off again this weekend, as lowly Adelaide United make up the opposition. Play your part from the stands as Newcastle aim to get themselves back in the finals positions and prove that last week was nothing more than a blemish on a run that will take the New South Wales club all the way to glory.
The Jets certainly need to play better than they did against finals rivals Perth last weekend though. In a disappointing performance that is certainly not indicative of the kind of form they have been showing in recent weeks, they succumbed to a goal in each half to their Western Australian opponents and, with Glory twice hitting the woodwork, it could have been even worse. The result ended a three-game winning streak and, with this weekend’s opponents doing them no favours either, they slipped out of the top six.
Following their loss in Perth, Newcastle were hoping Adelaide would help them out by beating their New South Wales rivals Sydney FC on Sunday. However, the Sky Blues left Hindmarsh with three points that saw them leapfrog the Jets into the finals places. After attacker Joel Chianese gave Sydney the lead, Fabian Barbiero scored an equaliser, only for Mitchell Mallia to grab a winner for the team from the Harbour City.
Not only was the result a blow to Newcastle, but it left The Reds with a mountain to climb if they are to make it into the finals. Every game is now a cup final for Adelaide and they need to go on an amazing run if they are to sneak into the top six at the season’s end.
So, with both Newcastle and Adelaide fighting for the win, neither will be especially keen to study the head-to-head between the sides this season. These two only faced-up recently and played out a hard-fought and entertaining 1-1 draw, with Jobe Wheelhouse cancelling out Sergio van Dijk’s strike to ensure a share of the spoils.
There was also nothing to choose between them when they met earlier in the Hyundai A-League season. While the game at Hindmarsh Stadium ended 0-0, it wasn’t without drama, as Adelaide had Nigel Boogaard needlessly sent off for backchatting the referee while on a yellow. You would have thought that would lead to Newcastle taking the points but it was in fact the Southern Australians who ended the stronger. They thought they’d won it when Barbiero found the net two minutes from time. However, the offside flag came to the Jets’ rescue.
With Newcastle hunting for an immediate return to the top six, and with Adelaide knowing that only a win will do if they are to keep their season alive, this is sure to be a hotly-contested and passionate battle. Squadron, show the same passion from the stands and sing your team to a crucial victory!
