Round 22 of the A-League begins at Hunter Stadium tonight when Newcastle Jets host Brisbane Roar. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 7.30pm AEDT.
Both teams won 2-0 last week and will be looking to keep that momentum going towards the finals, which is now just six weeks away.
Newcastle are currently in sixth spot, two points ahead of Brisbane in seventh, so the winner of this match will move (at least for the moment) into a finals berth, depending on the result of the Melbourne Heart – Sydney FC game.
Last time these two teams met was in round 16, where Newcastle won 1-0 at home thanks to a smart finish from Ryan Griffiths.
Newcastle was dominating for large stretches of the game and were able to create a great many more chances than Brisbane, but the win came as a bit of a surprise.
In 14 A-League games played against Brisbane in Newcastle, they’ve only won twice.
Both teams have had mixed form over in the last five weeks – Brisbane have had two losses and two wins, including an unconvincing performance last week against bottom-dwellers Wellington Phoenix.
Newcastle have only one win and one loss, but have received praise in the media for a strong game last week, especially for a new attacking line-up featuring Socceroo Adam Taggart and Englishmen Emile Heskey and Michael Bridges.
In the news this week Brisbane Roar officials were (rightfully) criticised for the removal of a fan-made sign declaring ‘Mulvey Out’ (a reference to Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey).
Brisbane responded this week that they did not object to the fans having an opinion, just that all signs had to be cleared with the club first.
It’ll be interesting to see if any travelling Roar fans this week will bother clearing their signs.
For Newcastle, the news this week has been the resurgence of Michael Bridges – last week’s game was his first start in two years and he showed up well, perhaps even good enough for the club to consider bringing him back next season. The performance of new signing Zenon Caravella was also a bright spot for the club.
Weather prediction for the match is a high chance of rain with thunderstorms in the area, so it could a scrappy game.
Keep your eyes on Newcastle captain Ruben Zadkovich, who put in a man of the match effort both last week and against Brisbane in round 16.
For Brisbane, striker Besart Berisha is the man with 12 goals (second highest in the league) but could be suffering from a few injuries after being knocked around last week.
Join us here for live commentary and live scores from 7.30pm.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Hi, I'm here to apply for the advertised spot for bitter Perth supporters?
clayts
Guest
By my count, that's three games this season that a bad call has either ruled out a goal from the roar or incorrectly allowed a goal against the roar. 2 resulted in losses and one a draw. Would be a different situation had roar been on the right end of these calls. I know it evens out in the end but Roar haven't had any luck with decisions leading to goals all the wqy through this season. Happens when you're not winning I guess. Inb4 bitter Perth supporters bring up the gf again..
Nathan of Perth
Guest
I should have asked Ward to give back his match fee after he missed that empty netter against Brisbane as well!
bj
Guest
get match officials to get it right waste of time paying good money if they car'nt get it right on the night.tonights ref and linesperson need glasses,or give back there match fees,
bj
Guest
another poor display by our family team roar, where was the forwards? the goal scorers, same in week in week out too many mistakes and too slow players,get rid of the manager and get new players that can pass a ball direct to another of there own team,and get speed up front,and ones that are not afraid to shoot,they might get it on the rebound with fast players.at this rate brisbane are gone this year. time to start planning for next good team
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Although I see Brenton Speed mentioning that the flag had been raised on the edge of the box soooo... hmm.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Hard one, to me the closer you play it to full-speed the more it looks like the back player got a touch on it before North smacked it home. But the slower you play it, the less it looks like a touch...
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
And Perth!
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Yep, huge kudos to the football community in Newcastle!
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
FULLTIME Brisbane Roar 0 – 0 Newcastle Jets Despite the lack of goals, both teams showed a good effort and perhaps were both a bit unlucky not to put a chance or two away. Fair result for both sides given the conditions supplied, they both dominated for portions of the game, Brisbane had the first half but the offside call on Jade North's goal was the difference. To choose a player for man of the match, it's tough not to like what Broich and Franjic were able to create for Brisbane but I opine Zadkovich was the most active player out there and got his side back into it with a strong second half. Thanks for joining the Roar for this live commentary, four more games to look forward to this weekend!
Roarsome
Guest
FANTASTIC job by the fans to get 8000 in the conditions. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
FULLTIME Brisbane Roar 0 – 0 Newcastle Jets No scores here in Hunter Stadium in a wet game, and a point each! Brisbane will remain two points behind Newcastle who are in sixth spot for the moment, and they'll watch the Heart/Sydney game closely on Sunday.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
90' + 3 Brisbane Roar 0 – 0 Newcastle Jets Corner for Brisbane is scrambled away by Newcastle and Nichols earns a yellow card for a professional foul - if he hadn't, the Jets were away on the counter.
Roarsome
Guest
That's two turnovers from two touches by Halloran. Poor form. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
90' + 1 Three minutes extra time for these teams to get on the scoreboard. Hoole comes on for Ryan Griffiths.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
90' Brisbane Roar 0 – 0 Newcastle Jets Newcastle pushing forward strongly now trying to break this deadlock. Brisbane have dropped everyone back - Theo is just managing to keep the crosses at bay.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
88' Brisbane Roar 0 – 0 Newcastle Jets Jade North with yet another good stop after Cooper almost raced away through on goal, he made everyone else on the pitch look like they were standing still!
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
87' Brisbane Roar 0 – 0 Newcastle Jets Zadkovich playing really well right now, keeping possession for Newcastle and linking up nicely with Heskey, although they haven't been able to create a shooting chance. One disappointment for the Jets is Ryan Griffiths, he's really been invisible much of this game.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
84' Brisbane Roar 0 – 0 Newcastle Jets Enrique involved straight away with an attempted through ball to Berisha gathered by Birighitti. Brisbane are doing a good job getting forward now but perhaps a bit too eager with the amount of offsides called against them.
Nigel Wakeley
Roar Guru
82' Brisbane Roar 0 – 0 Newcastle Jets Pretty much seeing an ice hockey line shift here: Taggart off for Virgili, Franjic off for Halloran, Nijland off for Enrique. Both teams going for it.