Can Newcastle Jets turn Ausgrid Stadium back into a fortress with a vital Victory over Melbourne? Be there and find out!
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory
Saturday 3rd December, 7.45pm
Can Newcastle Jets turn Ausgrid Stadium back into a fortress with a vital Victory over Melbourne? Be there and find out!
The fixture list might show that Newcastle Jets haven’t won in their last three games, but that really only tells half the story.
Defeat to Melbourne Heart was disappointing, but since then, they gave Brisbane Roar a real battle and were unlucky to lose by the odd goal and last week they came away from Hindmarsh Stadium with a very creditable goalless draw against Adelaide United. Indeed, they could have even won it, after the home side were reduced to 10 men midway through the second-half.
They were, however, unable to take advantage of their numerical advantage and, as so often happens, the ten men actually raised their game. In the end, Newcastle did well to resist a strong Adelaide finish and their first away point of the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 season was certainly a valuable one.
This fine draw aside, their success so far this campaign has come on home soil, so this week’s clash with Victory is extra important. Their loss to Roar was the first time they had dropped a point at Ausgrid Stadium in the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 season and they’ll be looking to get straight back to winning ways on Saturday.
So, Squadron, you need to be at your vocal best and make sure you once again turn your home ground into a tough place for travelling sides to visit.
Victory might have had a less-than-impressive start to the season, but they answered last week’s negative press in emphatic fashion on Sunday, with a thrilling win over Gold Coast United, despite playing the entire second-half with just 10 men.
The victory proved that they are nothing if not resolute, gaining points while numerically disadvantaged for the second time in recent weeks, following their remarkable 2-2 draw with Roar. If anything, this fixture was even more of a belter, with three penalties, a red card and a five goals!
Victory were in front before most fans had taken their seats, thanks to Harry Kewell’s landmark penalty. Carlos Hernandez added another spot-kick before Rody Vargas was sent off for going over the ball on 33 minutes. This allowed Gold Coast to pull the score back to 2-2, before Hernandez sent the noisy home fans wild with a late winner. What a thriller!
For a side that have been criticised for not starting the season especially well, Victory now find themselves in 3rd place in the ladder and ready to make an assault on a top-two slot.
Therefore, this is a must-win game for Jets if they are to send a message to the rest of the league about their silverware aspirations. Three points would see them leapfrog Victory, so, as always, Squadron, it’s time to make some serious noise. Support from the stands is crucial to your players, so get ready to play a pivotal role in this mouth-watering clash!
