The team who has only registered one win at home this season faces the team who are yet to lose on the road. Two teams at contrasting ends of the ladder meet with the Newcastle Jets hosting Sydney to begin Round 26 of the A-League.
Nothing was expected of the Jets last week when they travelled to Melbourne to meet the top of the table Victory. But to everybody’s surprise, they produced one of their best performances this season to stun Kevin Muscat’s men 1-0. Edson Montano capitalised on a weak attempted clearance from Nick Ansell to score just his fourth of the season.
This worked perfectly in Sydney FC’s favour, they were the only top six side that recorded a win in Round 25, easily accounting for the Perth Glory 3-0 to keep their title hopes alive. The win was also their 12th match without tasting defeat away from Allianz Stadium. Bernie Ibini scored a spectacular goal in the win which also featured a double for captain Alex Brosque.
Key Battle- Daniel Mullen v Marc Janko
When these sides last met one of the most entertaining facets of a rather dull match was the battle between Newcastle’s centre-back Daniel Mullen and star Sydney FC striker Marc Janko.
The Austrian international eventually got the better of Mullen and scored the game’s lone goal, but their individual battle, especially in the air was a tight contest. Expect the same to happen this week with a lot of Sydney’s attacking going through Janko. Understandably so, as the former FC Porto hitman has netted 16 times this season and is tipped to sign a new contract. However, do not expect the former Adelaide and Western Sydney fullback to back down from the fight
Team News
Phil Stubbins welcomes back Ben Kantarovski after he missed last week’s win with a groin injury, while his midfield partner Zenon Caravella is out with an ankle injury. It was confirmed last night that the club will not be renewing the contract of the former Adelaide midfielder. Stubbins has stuck with the a similar team and set up in recent weeks so expect him to do the same for this clash.
Newcastle Jets expected XI (4-3-3): Kennedy (GK); Cowburn, Regan, Mullen, Ki-Je; Kantarovski, Cooper, Pepper; Hoole, Montano, Alivodic;
Graham Arnold’s men will be buoyed by the return of Shane Smeltz and Mikael Tavares from suspension and injury respectively. Having those reinforcements in defence and attack gives the depth the two-time champions need to push for the title again this year.
Sydney FC expected XI (4-2-3-1): Janjetovic (GK); Ryall, Faty, Petkovic, Gersbach; Dimitrijevic, Grant; Ibini, Brosque, Naumoff; Janko
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Head-to-head
The Sky Blues have dominated this fixture over the course of the A-League winning 17 of the 31 matches between these two teams. They have not lost to the Jets since December 2012 and have not conceded a goal in the past five matches, dating back to February 2013.
This will be the third and final time these sides will meet this season. When they first met in January, a spectacular goal from Marc Janko was controversially disallowed as that match ended in a scoreless draw, but the Austrian got his retribution early last month, scoring the only goal to give Sydney a hard fought three points.
Prediction
Newcastle did the unthinkable last week when they defeated another title chaser. Whether they can do it two weeks is yet to be seen. Graham Arnold’s men are always structured and the fluidity in their play, as well as their attacking prowess should be too much for Phil Stubbins’ men.
Newcastle Jets 0 Sydney FC 2
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