After scrapping past Sydney FC last week, Brisbane Roar will be looking to cement their position in the top two, and should things fall their way, maybe even end the weekend in top spot.
Standing in their road is a Newcastle team who still want to have a say on the minor premiership. While they may be out of finals contention, a spirited Newcastle team could be a difficult match for the high-flying Roar.
Key battle – Dimitri Petratos vs Mateo Poljak
It may not be the most dynamic match up, but the importance both of these players represent for their team cannot be questioned. Mateo Poljak has been a stalwart for the Jets this season, playing 24 of the 25 games this season and chipping in with the odd goal here and there.
His tough tackling and short passing game provide the corner stone for most of Newcastle’s play. With all eyes at Newcastle looking towards next season, it would be a smart move to extend his contract and look to build the team around his position in the centre of midfield.
On the opposition team, Dimitri Petratos is in the form of his life. After scoring a wonder volley against Melbourne City, Petratos has taken his game to a new level, playing the number 10 role and roaming across the middle and front thirds. His ability to run with the ball at speed and strength, all the while picking out the right pass has been a revelation for John Aloisi this season.
Poljak will be tasked with stopping the energetic Petratos, no easy task but a mission that Poljak will be more than willing to take on. Should he be able to keep the Roar midfielder quiet, then it is one less attacking avenue to Maclaren Newcastle to worry about.
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Team news
The important team news for this fixture comes from the Brisbane camp. Captain and the midfield engine, Matt McKay returns from international duty after being a late call up due to injury. His presence is a welcome return to a team that only just snuck past Sydney FC last week and looked as if a calming influence across the midfield would not go astray. McKay will slot straight back into the starting team for Steven Lustica.
CrownBet match odds at time of publishing
The other big return is the dynamic Jack Hingert, who returns from suspension. The backline last week looked worse without his attacking and defensive nous, as young centre back Daniel Bowles was forced to cover for the roving right back. Normality shall be resumed across the Brisbane defensive live.
For Newcastle, Daniel Mullen returns from suspension in a welcome return for the Newcastle team that almost ended up with a draw against the form tea of the A-League, Perth Glory. Mullen’s influence across the Newcastle defensive line will be similar to McKay, in that he represents part of the foundations of the team, along the all-important central spine.
Enver Alidovic also returns for Newcastle after missing last weeks game due to the birth of his son in what should provide Newcastle with more creative nous going forward.
Head-to-head
The Roar have played the Jets 35 times with the Brisbane narrowly emerging victorious with 13 wins to Newcastle’s 12, with 10 of those games ending in a draw.
However, on the 17 occasions these two teams have met at Suncorp Stadium, Newcastle have won nine matches to Brisbane’s four, showing a strange trend when it comes to this fixture.
Previous meeting
Last time these two teams met was in round 19 at Suncorp Stadium, when a late Alivodic own goal spared Brisbane’s blushes, earning the home team a 2-2 draw, continuing the trend of Brisbane’s inability to beat Newcastle when playing in Queensland.
Prediction
History suggests this will be a close game, with Newcastle having a wonderful chance to have a say in the minor premiership. However Brisbane will be too strong. While they have had problems in this fixture over the years, Brisbane’s home form this season has been imperious, and forms the foundations of their title challenge.
An in form Maclaren and Petratos will be too much for Newcastle, while the addition of Hingert and McKay create a huge boost for the home team as they look to take the battle for the minor premiership right up to the final match day of the regular season.
Brisbane Roar 3 Newcastle Jets 0
*CrownBet match odds at time of publishing are subject to change
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