Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar will both be looking for three points to move into the top six on the A-League ladder when they meet at Hunter Stadium tonight. We’ll have live scores from 7.45pm AEDT.
Newcastle’s 0-0 with Adelaide last week might have looked a drab, uninspiring result but coach Gary van Egmond would have taken many positives from the game.
The Jets defence has looked shaky at the best of times in season eight, but last Saturday was the first time during their 15-game campaign that they have kept a clean sheet.
In addition, James Virgili and James Brown both had strong performances in the front third of the pitch and they’ll give Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulvey headaches if they are up and about again tonight.
Brisbane were well-held by A-League cellar dwellers Melbourne Heart last weekend, with Besart Berisha’s late goals making the scoreline a respectable 3-2.
Unfortunately for the Jets, injuries will force Gary van Egmond to once again reshuffle his lineup. Emile Heskey has not recovered from a quad injury and will miss while skipper Jobe Wheelhouse has been named on the bench.
Ruben Zadkovich has been named to start despite being under an injury crowd throughout the week, and local junior Andrew Hoole will make his A-League debut at right back for the home side.
Brisbane have no such injuries concerns, and will be boosted by the addition of former Jets skipper Jade North, who signed for the Roar during the week and looks set to start against the club he won an A-League championship with.
These sides sit in eighth and seventh position respectively, and with only 11 matches remaining in the season it is time to make a statement.
Both sides will fancy their chances in this one and the winner could put a serious dent in their opposition’s top-six hopes with three points tonight.
Kasey
Guest
Well even the EPL has mid table slug-outs that hardly set the world on fire. The beautiful game is not always beautiful, sometimes 2 teams without much spark in the final third meet and that's what I saw last night. Usually when watching a HAL game I look/hope for the result that best suits my Reds. Last night I was all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ussCHoQttyQ So in the end considering what was best for the game I hoped for a home win. Somehow we have developed a league where home wins are rare and how we manage to get people to return on the back of some poor home records is amazing:) I'm looking at you MHT Berisha has been off his sharp game all season. He had a handful of chances that you would expect him to score from usually. Is he injured or just not got his head in the right place I wonder?
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Didn't see much, but that which I saw seemed pretty well-handled.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
What, me? A hang-up? Surely you can't be serious!
Ballymore
Guest
I couldn't care less about crowds, I care about playing good football & winning.
Ballymore
Guest
Thought Strebre had a good game. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Ballymore
Guest
BNE got what they deserved. I wish Bosnich/Rudan had asked Mulvey some tough questions. Soft & pedestrian questions don't reveal anything. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
TK
Guest
that tongue out of your cheek yet nathan?
Cameron
Roar Guru
Nathan... How many goals did you score? How many shots? Who scored your goal? Who was red carded? What was possession and territory? I think you may never let it go. :P
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Sounding terribly familiar to our own woes and probably on the money. Lack of production from the forwards.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Obviously Brisbane should have let us win that last GF, now they feel they've done it all and can't summon the last 10% of effort. If they'd let us win Australia wouldn't have had to hear us whine for six months and the Roar would be hungry and winning games! ;)
Roarsome
Guest
While the defense is questionable, the Roar's attack is the major problem and has been all season. We've lost nearly twice as many games as we've won and yet our goal difference is only -1. Part of the problem is the lack of another striker though most of the problem is the service the players are providing the striker we have. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Harry the Hornet
Guest
Watched this game on Foxtel with a friend who has no interest in football. He agreed with Mark Rudan that Brisbane players are out there for the paycheck and showed literally no interest in winning the game.He was gutted we wasted a Saturday night watching this bunch of no-hopers. Broich is a spectator, Halloran is a whinging wimp and Nichols was carrying Broich's tea and biccies. Completely gutless, completey apathetic performance from so called ' professionals' who know nothing of earning a paycheck. Having watched the completely hopeless Melbourne Victory first up then watched this garbage the A League have lost a fan. Without promotion/relegation these idiots wll get paid for for what amateurs can produce, and regularly do. Would love to see an A League coach show some balls and raise the bar for what is an acceptable level expected of a professional athlete. Sack some of these sorry arses and get some kids in there who are at least interested in being more than a muppet.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Could see less but I'll still show
BES
Guest
Well thats official. We are crap. That was THE WORST 45 minutes of football I have had the misfortune of watching in the past 3 years. Brisbane for the wooden spoon this season. North must be thinking "what on earth have I done...?"
Roarsome
Guest
Will we see 10,000 against WSW at Suncorp next week? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Cameron
Roar Guru
Seriously Brisbane Roar is just making it look more and more like they won nothing and Ange won it all. This is disgusting!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Have had to leave the tv but based on what I saw, only Lady Luck can help the Roar today...
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Don't know how on earth they are supposed to have the majority of possession - this half has been an Jets air show! Constant attack deep in Brisbane's half...
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
Glad I am unable to watch this one... Looks bad!
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
According to another live game app, they do, a shot on target. And the majority of possession