Two sides desperately needing a win clash this weekend when the Newcastle Jets hosts the FFA Cup champions Melbourne Victory to close round 13 of the A-League.
The Jets have yet to win since their 3-2 victory over Melbourne City in October and are coming off a 2-0 loss to Western Sydney on Christmas Eve. The Victory ended their four match losing streak but still could not find a win themselves, drawing 1-1 with Perth last weekend.
Team News
Scott Miller would be disappointed with his team’s performance against the Wanderers last week but a rare highlight would have been the second half-form of Lachlan Jackson, which is surely enough to have earned a starting spot over Nick Cowburn. David Carney will miss the clash after accumulating his fifth yellow card last week, but Jason Hoffman returns from his one match suspension
Given Melbourne’s recent form slump questions has been asked whether Kevin Muscat will potentially dropping some of his key players. Gui Finkler, Nick Ansell, and Carl Valeri are all unavailable for this match.
Newcastle Jets
Key Player – When your goalkeeper is your best performing player it is clear things are not going swimmingly, but make no mistake about it, Mark Birighitti has been in superb form this term keeping two clean sheets and making 45 saves. Melbourne’s attacking quartet have not been setting the league on fire as of late, but we all know what they are capable of.
Strengths – The Jets started with three wins in four matches. They since have not won in eight matches. In regards to performance, not much has changed from the team that won the wooden spoon last season. The only strength the Jets seem to have is their record against Melbourne at home.
Weaknesses – Finishing. Miller has to face the music. Milos Trifunovic is not the striker that is going to bring success to Newcastle. This year he has been slow, at times lazy, and seems to lack the instincts a quality striker needs. But it is not just him. The Jets have only scored one goal in their past six matches. That is unacceptable. The January transfer window could not have come quick enough for Newcastle.
Melbourne Victory
Key Player – While the Victory have not been completely outplayed in their five-match winless run, they have still lacked the fire and the superiority that they had so much of last season and at the beginning of this season. This is the type of game where a player like Besart Berisha really needs to step up and make himself count. He needs to trouble the Newcastle defence, he needs to run at them all game. The rest will follow and even if they do not, Berisha is a proven match winner
Strengths – There are too many strengths in Melbourne’s game at the moment, but their playing style is head and shoulders above Scott Miller’s and that will be the difference this week. Their quick and slick passing could be too much for the Newcastle defence.
Weaknesses – Melbourne’s poor record in Newcastle. In 11 seasons of travelling to the Hunter the Victory, who are one of the most successful sides in the country have only won two matches at Hunter Stadium. Those wins came in 2006 and 2009.
Head-to-head
When these side met in round three this year Newcastle upset the defending champions 1-0 thanks to a stunning goal by David Carney. In 31 meetings the Jets have recorded 14 victories compared to Melbourne’s 10, while there have been seven draws.
Prediction
None of these sides really look like winning at the moment but they both need one. The Victory should have enough about them to triumph, but there is something about Newcastle’s formidable record at the stadium.
Newcastle Jets 1 Melbourne Victory 1
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