Premiers Plate chasing Western Sydney Wanderers head to Hunter Stadium on Sunday afternoon with the opportunity to push for top spot and subsequently end Newcastle Jets’ slim finals chances.
The Wanderers relinquished top spot, after suffering a dramatic 3-2 loss away to Brisbane Roar last week.
Tony Popovic and his men will be desperate to get back on track and Hunter Stadium has provided plenty of fond memories over the years, having never lost a game at the venue.
It has been a mixed run of form for the Wanderers as they search for their usual consistency.
Popovic will demand nothing but three points from this trip to Newcastle, which depending on the result of Adelaide’s clash against City on Friday night could see the Wanderers back at the summit again.
CrownBet match odds at time of publishing
Newcastle goes into the fixture with their season hanging by the barest of threads. The loss on Monday night against Perth Glory leaves the Jets five points shy of sixth position and with a much inferior goal difference. Scott Miller and his men simply must beat the Wanderers to maintain any sort of pressure on the teams above them if they are to make an unlikely finals push.
One thing in their favour is that the Jets are in decent form aside from the loss to the Glory. Newcastle were unbeaten in their previous four matches and Miller will have to tap into the confidence gained from those performances.
Key Battle – Mateo Poljak vs Mitch Nichols
Newcastle will need a superb marshalling performance from Mateo Poljak this weekend if he is to keep the Wanderers’ main playmaker in check.
Mitch Nichols has been in superb form this season and one of the main reasons the Wanderers are flying second on the table. He has linked beautifully with his fellow front men and has also scored his share of goals, including a wonder strike against the Phoenix.
Poljak will have to keep an eye on him at all times, especially since he will be protecting a reshuffled backline due to the suspension of both Daniel Mullen and Jason Hoffman. If he cannot tame the influence of Nichols, the Wanderers creative man will be able to take advantage of any communication and positional issues at the back for the Jets.
Team News
Miller has some juggling to do with his backline after Mullen was sent off last week against the Glory and Hoffman received another yellow card which triggered a ban.
It would be no surprise to see Ben Kantarovski drafted in at centre half in place of Mullen. This would allow for Nick Cowburn to move from left-back to right and Lachlan Jackson would come in on the left. A question mark also hovers over Leonardo who suffered a facial injury against the Glory, but he will be given every chance to play on Sunday.
Former Jets players Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Mark Bridge return from suspension and injury respectively, while there has also been a recall for yet another former Jets player in Jacob Pepper. Popovic has no real injuries concerns, which is perfect timing with the finals just around the corner.
Head-to-Head
The Wanderers lead the Jets five to three on the head-to-head record, with three draws. The Wanderers have also never been humbled at Hunter Stadium.
Previous Meeting
Western Sydney beat the Jets 2-0 on Christmas Eve at Pirtek Stadium last time the two teams clashed. Newcastle paid for missing a few early chances as Alberto Aguilar and Bridge ensured a Merry Christmas for their fans and reasserted their Premiers Plate credentials.
Prediction
Western Sydney has it all to play for in this one and will be feeling rightfully confident they have the Jets measure at this venue. Miller and his side will be no pushover, as they are playing some much improved football since the two teams last met, but the Wanderers possess a touch too much class for the Jets.
Newcastle Jets 1 Western Sydney Wanderers 2
*CrownBet odds correct at time of publishing and subject to change.
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