The Newcastle Jets had their first away win in more than a year on Saturday night, a 1-0 victory at A-League titleholders Brisbane Roar.
The Jets beat the now defunct North Queensland Fury 3-1 on January 8 last year and since then had chalked up 10 losses and three draws on the road.
But Brisbane is a favourite stopover for Newcastle, who have now won there seven times in ten visits.
Victory over the second-placed Roar was sealed in the 23rd minute by Jobe Wheelhouse.
He capitalised on the clever work of Ben Kantarovski to take possession inside the penalty area and score from one of a few genuine opportunities in the first half.
Francis Jeffers and Jacob Pepper set-up scoring shots from inside the penalty box in the opening 10 minutes but Roar goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos avoided trouble.
He couldn’t do it a third time when Wheelhouse’s firm strike clipped the keeper’s hand and found the net.
Playing their third match in eight days, the Jets were sluggish on the rain-sodden surface in the second half and spent the last 20 minutes with the bulk of their side in defensive mode.
The Roar’s attacking build-ups promised plenty but failed to deliver.
Defender Ivan Franjic worked play continuously down the right side, using midfielders Massimo Murdocca and Mitch Nichols as conduits to deliver the ball in to the penalty box.
But the attacking finesse and polish that was the Roar’s trademark on the way to winning last season’s title was missing.
Dangerous Roar forward Henrique had a couple of near misses and he was wrongly called off-side in the second half after he had beaten Jets goalkeeper Ben Kennedy.
The Bear
Guest
Ange is too proud to change his approach, i think. I hope he looks back and reflects on what went wrong. Squad depth would be a good place to start looking. Nichols was playing right back for considerable portions of this game; Partalu seemingly CB, as well. That leaves Murdocca to assert Roar's presence in the midfield DM, RM, LM and AM. He covers a lot of ground but perhaps this is a stretch : ) Meyer should have started. I am starting to lose patience with this Season.
Realfootball
Guest
The bottom line is this: Brisbane simply haven't got the necessary firepower in the squad. Honestly, who thought it was a good idea to go into a season with one striker? It was always going to a big problem - not only because of injury and suspension, but also because there is no variation off the bench.
Stu
Guest
They'll miss the finals if they continue to play as they have been. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
stu
Guest
you have really backed up what i was commenting on regarding predictable play. in regards to 'ordinary', the Jets have been ordinary this season, last night to the eye the looked ok. Sydney look ordinary most games they play yet the last 2 games against the roar they have looked good. Heart looked good against the roar last weekend yet were less than ordinary today. there are many ordinary teams in the league and the roar at the moment are in that bunch, so the point is that as they are so predictable some ordinary teams put in a better performace than they did the week before or will next week.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Stu what do you mean the Roar will miss the finals? As for the ACL, they will have play very poorly to beat MV on that front.
Stu
Guest
The roar, playing like they have for most of this season, will miss the finals. Not a major concern. The biggest issue is the ACL. They have the potential to embarrass the credibility of the whole league against Asia's best. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Stu----"ordinary teams look good against the Roar"? Hmm I can't see how you come to that conclusion. I think Roar are now caught up too much with their own possession football philosophy of playing too much possession football in the front third instead of trying to cut through earlier while they have possession. Too often they allow their opposition to regroup in the box, which results in an impenetrable wall of defenders.
Realfootball
Guest
Brisbane are about as interesting to watch as a fart in a phone box. And no, you can't actually see a fart in a phone box, which gives it a considerable advantage. This team has serious morale issues and looks to me on the edge of a free fall down the table. I hope I am wrong, but the body language is all wrong.
stu
Guest
I will say it again, ordinary teams look good against the Roar as all A-league clubs know exactly how they will play. What's the chance the Jets will look as good in their next game? Ange commented what the aftermath typically is after the Roar fall one goal behind, well perhaps Ange needs to change the approach instead of being predictable. Can't totally understand why Meyer overlapped wide with Franjic, and stayed wide, we had next to no presence in the 6 yard box. If Ange is to continue being single minded in his approach, he must recruit players that can rise to his vision. A number of players last night were again lacking vision and ability. At a time when we have seen some clubs adding to their roster, nothing happening at the Roar. As fans we need some signs from the new owners of their intentions for the club as the silence is deafening, the team and the atmosphere is stale, words of vision and leadership from the administration and coach are lacking,
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
That was a really good performance by the Jets playing their 3rd game in 8 days and winning last light. GVE has finally got the team gelling and playing a lot more consistently. They seemed to have a very balance team now. Michael Bridges is getting fitter and stronger introduced as a late sub---really adds to the team in the last stages of the match---an old head either adding spark or settling down the side to hold on to a lead. The Roar play their usual high pressing game, but always get caught out with a sucker punch at the back with a goal going against them. The Jets exploited the holes beautifully at times with quick counter attacks and could have scored two more goals in the first half. However, in he second half the usual pattern occurs with the Roar dominating their opponents with more possession but lack ideas to break through a solid defence. I've lost count of how many games I've seen the Roar control the late stages of the game but can't get the winner or even the equaliser. Its obvious now that if their two most influential players the German and Albanian are not out there together they struggle to get a result.