Newcastle welcome Brisbane Roar to Hunter Stadium on Saturday afternoon in a clash of two very distinct footballing styles.
Newcastle relied on their defensive discipline and organisation last weekend, as well as a superb performance from gloveman Mark Birighitti to escape Adelaide with a 0-0 draw. Their style has not been to everyone’s liking but Scott Miller and his men sit in fifth position on the ladder, a far cry from their disastrous campaign last season.
That discipline and organisation will be severely tested this weekend by a high flying Roar side that have been playing some beautiful football this season. Under the tutelage of former Socceroo John Aloisi, the Roar have catapulted to the top of the A-League ladder and appear as one of the teams to watch for this year’s title.
Key Battle – Nigel Boogaard vs Jamie Maclaren
Newcastle skipper Nigel Boogaard has been the rock that this season’s Newcastle Jets have been built on. The side that conceded a league-high 55 goals last campaign has been much more difficult to break down this season and the signing from Adelaide United has had a lot to do with that. He is the man that leads from the back, shouting the instructions to his team mates and driving them on to perform to the best of their abilities. He seems to be fitting in perfectly back in the Hunter Valley as the skipper of the region’s A-League outfit.
He will have to be at his very best this week if he is to contain the threat of Maclaren. The former Glory man has been one of the signings of the season so far, using his pace and intelligence to unlock many of the league’s defences. He has hit the target three times this season, but it is his pace and movement that has been creating space for those around him. With players like Thomas Broich and Corona providing him with plenty of service, he looms as the man who could provide the goals to topple the Jets this weekend.
Team News
Newcastle have a few players under slight injury clouds this weekend, with the lack of depth at the club making it hard for Miller to give some of his players a rest when needed. Both Milos Trifunovic and the aforementioned Boogaard limped off with injuries last week against the Reds but have been cleared of any serious damage and look likely to play this weekend.
Newcastle will welcome back Brazilian playmaker Leonardo this weekend. He missed the Reds clash after that ugly challenge from Jake McGing in the F3 Derby, but his leg has recovered sufficiently for him to take the pitch this weekend.
Newcastle Jets Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Birighitti (GK); Hoffman, Boogaard, Jackson, Lee Ki-je; Poljak, Kantarovski; Carney, Leonardo, Alivodic; Trifunovic.
The Roar have named an unchanged squad and the only real question will be just who they decide to throw in from the start. The sparkling form of newly-naturalised Australian Henrique is placing severe pressure on the front three and he must be getting close to earning himself a starting berth soon, though he may just miss out this week.
Brisbane Roar Expected XI (4-3-3): Young (GK); Hingert, Bowles, North, Stefanutto; Petratos, McKay, Corona; Borrello, MacLaren, Broich.
Head-to-Head
The Jets lead these encounters narrowly with 11 wins to 10, with the sides playing out eight draws. It is a different story at Hunter Stadium though, with the Roar leading the ledger 9-3.
Previous Meeting
Lachlan Jackson, now with the Jets, was the man who scored a late winner at Suncorp Stadium in round 27 last season as the Roar beat the Jets 2-1.
Prediction
Newcastle is a different beast this year due to their style of play and the fact that they are not as easy to break down as they were last season. But it would be a surprise to see them beat a Roar outfit that is looking the goods this season. It will be tight and tense at times but the superior quality of the Roar should get them over the line against the Novocastrians.
Newcastle Jets 1 Brisbane Roar 2
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