Two sides with a lot of confidence and a lot to prove meet this week as the rejuvenated Newcastle face Tony Popovic’s Western Sydney Wanderers at Hunter Stadium. Will the Jets continue to impress or can the red and black make it back-to-back?
Newcastle have returned a different beast this season, winning as many matches after one month as they did after 27 outings last season. What is even more impressive is the teams they have played and the circumstances they overcame to record their nine points. They began the season with a 2-1 win Wellington and have beat Melbourne Victory and City in the past two weeks, coming from 2-0 down to beat the latter last week.
On the other end of the spectrum the Wanderers are coming off a much needed and deserved win over Perth Glory last weekend. A year to the day after their historic Asian Champions League win, Dario Vidosic scored the winner on the stroke of half time. It is too soon to tell if that is enough to so spark a revival for the side who finished ninth last season, but it is a start.
Key battle — David Carney vs Dario Vidosic
David Carney has been in superb form for the Jets this season. Two goals and two assists this season and there has been talk of a possible, but unlikely, Socceroo return. He is the key man for Newcastle. His energy, his desire and his touch of class in that left-foot of his will go a long way to giving Newcastle the three points on Saturday.
A sublime talent. Vidosic causes trouble off the ball, and is even deadlier on it. Whether he is deployed as a No.10 or coming in off the wing, the former FC Nurnberg attacker poses a threat for all comers. As he showed against Perth all he needs is an inch of space and he can punish teams. Western Sydney need him to link up as well with Mitch Nichols as he did last week if they are threaten the stubborn Newcastle defence.
Team News
Scott Miller will not make many unforced changes this week. The former Fulham coach will most likely keep the same side that came from 2-0 down to win last week apart from the injured Daniel Mullen. And he would not send his team out to play defensively in front of a crowd full of passionate Novocastrians. The returning Leonardo also adds another element to their attack.
Popovic, on the other hand, has the luxury of choosing from an abundance of talent with attacking prowess. Romeo Castelen returns from injury. Vidosic made a successful starting debut which was capped off with a man-of-the-match performance while Brendon Santalab and former Newcastle Jet Mark Bridge both returned from injury last week. The former Crystal Palace assistant could choose to give Bridge a start or give the wing position to hot prospect Jaushua Sotirio. He could also promote Santalab to the first 11 supplanting struggling Italian Federico Piovaccari.
Head-to-head
History cannot split these two teams at the moment. After nine matches the ledger is squared at three wins for Newcastle, three wins for the Wanderers and three draws.
But if history is going to have a say in this fixture then it definitely favours the visitors on this occasion. The red and black have won twice at Hunter Stadium, and are undefeated there since 2012. In fact they sealed the Premier’s Plate in an emphatic fashion with a 3-0 win on Good Friday in 2013.
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Previous Meeting
The Newcastle Jets were victorious when these sides last met in Round 22 last season. Enver Alivodic and Ki-Je Lee scored first half goals before a successful Nick Kalmar free kick halved the deficit and made for a nail-biting finish which ended in a 2-1 win for Newcastle. Just their second of the season.
Prediction
Both sides are in form but Newcastle should continue their run with a hard thought victory.
Newcastle Jets 2 Western Sydney Wanderers 1
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