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Newcastle ended a tumultuous week with a scoreless draw with Melbourne Victory in their first A-League home game under new owner Nathan Tinkler.
Both sides fielded depleted sides due to injury and Olyroos duty for a tightly contested match played in front of a healthy crowd of 8652, just shy of Newcastle’s season-high at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Jets coach Branko Culina was forced to recast his team, opting to play a 4-3-3 formation with Kasey Wehrman, Ruben Zadkovich and Labinot Haliti making up the midfield.
In an attacking encounter played at frenetic pace, the Victory’s Costa Rican striker Carlos Hernandez provided the first shot with only two minutes on the clock.
The Jets had their first chance in the eighth minute when Zadkovich fired a left-foot missile from from 30 metres out that soared over Victory keeper Michael Petkovic.
The Jets continued to apply the pressure but Victory defender Rodrigo Vargas managed to clear a dangerous cross from Sean Rooney.
The first yellow card was handed out to Victory striker Robbie Kruse for a foul on Wehrman midway through the opening half and Victory defender Surat Sukha was also booked for a late tackle on Zadkovich.
Newcastle midfielder Zadkovich got his fifth yellow of the season in the 41st minute after pushing Marvin Angulo, which means he is now ruled out of the Jets’ next game away to Brisbane Roar on October 16.
Victory started the second half with more urgency and should have gone ahead when Kruse met with a Tom Pondeljak ball and set up Hernandez for a one-on-one with Jets shot-stopper Ben Kennedy.
Instead, the visitors’ best chance at a goal went begging when the Costa Rican sent the ball well over the crossbar.
The Jets continued to give away possession in the second half, allowing Hernandez another shot on goal while Brazilian Ricardinho had his first effort of the match saved in the 71st minute.
Culina was pleased with the performance his depleted team produced, considering Jobe Wheelhouse, Marko Jesic, Mark Bridges, Jeremy Brockie and Ben Kantarovski are all missing with injury.
“For us to get a result tonight, I know it was only a draw but for me it was like a win in many ways when you consider those five players missing and the fact that it was our third game in eight days,” he said.
“Table-wise we’re not happy where we are, but I think when you look at everything the way we’ve played, the situation around the club, you’ve got to take the positives out of that.”
Victory coach Ernie Merrick was frustrated with the amount of opportunities that went begging.
“It’s been the story of our year to date,” he said.
“In fact this is a tough hunting ground for us, we don’t often play very well for some reason up in Newcastle.
“But I thought we played very well tonight and created lost of chances.
“We really felt we were going to win the game but we just could get over the line.
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