Roar Guru
Perth Glory will be looking to build on their mid-week FFA Cup success when the Newcastle Jets arrive in town desperate for a win. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEDT).
It’s been hard going for the Jets so far this season. Bundled out of the Cup at the first opportunity by Perth, dropping a much-deserved point against the Mariners in injury-time in Round 1 and then dropping another two when David Villa popped in a late equaliser in Round 2.
In Round 3 it appeared as though Newcastle’s travel schedule – they have yet to play a game at home this season – got the best of them. They were smashed on the counter by Wellington, shipping four goals, and have picked up just one point from three matches.
It won’t get any easier in Western Australia. The Jets have a bad record at nib Stadium and haven’t beaten the Glory in their past nine meetings.
Kenny Lowe’s side is finding some form and has some real potency up front in Andy Keogh. Perth were brushed aside by Adelaide United 2-0 last weekend, their first loss of the campaign, but they look a team reborn compared with last season.
Youssouf Hersi is still finding his feet but the former Wanderer, along with Mitch Nichols and Richard Garcia, offer a lot in the attacking third. Dino Djulbic adds some steel at the back, while Nebojsa Marinkovic can both create and score goals. Important wins against Wellington and Brisbane in the first two rounds have been earned.
Tightening Newcastle’s defence, as well as putting chances away, is Phil Stubbins’ aim. The Jets dominated possession against the Phoenix but were ripped apart by lighting fast counter attacks. The likes of Hersi and Jamie Maclaren will be looking to do the same on Saturday.
Adrian Madaschi and Billy Celeski are still unavailable for Newcastle but Ben Kantarovski could feature in midfield.
Marcos Flores has yet to really show what he can do and Stubbins really needs his front-men – Edson Montano, Jeronimo Neumman and Joel Griffiths – to start banging them in.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Jets the following weekend if though they are at home, as they host Melbourne Victory, so this game looms as a crucial one.
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