Newcastle Jets coach Phil Stubbins questioned whether a “fear factor” when in front was hurting his win-less side after they gave up their fifth advantage this season to lose 3-1 to Wellington Phoenix at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
Phoenix came from behind with three goals in five minutes to extend the Jets’ drought this season to nine games.
The Jets were on top on the scoreboard and in chances created before Nathan Burns rounded goalkeeper Ben Kennedy to equalise in the 73rd minute after a beautiful ball from Rolieny Bonevacia.
A minute later, an unmarked Michael McGlinchey tapped home Bonevacia’s shot, which Jets keeper Ben Kennedy had pushed onto the far post.
The stunning turnaround was complete in the 78th minute when Fiji international Roy Krishna cannoned a stunning strike from the edge of the area into the top-left corner of goal to make it 3-1.
The hosts had the better of the first half and led in the 24th minute when Joel Griffiths tapped home a ball from Andrew Hoole following excellent work from David Carney down the right.
Wellington’s win was their fifth in nine games, while the loss was Newcastle’s fifth and left them on four points.
Stubbins was again searching for answers after the Jets failed to capitalise on another lead.
“It’s very disappointing,” Stubbins said.
“Is there a fear of being in front?
“We’re certainly good enough to go and get goals, it’s been proven, but thereafter to fall down and get ourselves in a situation now where we’re sort of questioning ourselves
“I’ll certainly have to have a look how we address taking the lead and how we want to play after that.
“We can go out there and park the bus for 90 minutes and hope to get through the game, but I don’t think that’s the way to go.”
While Wellington coach Ernie Merrick praised his fleet-footed strike-force of Burns, Bonevacia and Krishna, he believed the turning point came in the 71st minute when Vince Lia replaced Alex Rodriguez, who had five stitches to a head cut.
“We rode our luck a little bit but we were playing good football and we talked about that at halftime,” Merrick said.
“I asked the boys to start pushing forward. They didn’t do it initially but the change of bringing on Vince Lia allowed me to push Roli Bonevacia forward even more with McGlinchey… and that was the difference.
Both sides had chances in a free-flowing first half.
Griffiths’ was denied by the crossbar in the 14th minute. The Jets also went close when Carney hit the top-left corner of the woodwork from a free kick in the 43rd minute and Jacob Pepper, who came in the seventh minute for an injured Billy Celeski, had a shot smothered in the 34th.
For Wellington, McGlinchey hit a Burns ball over the crossbar from the six-yard line in the 21st minute and had a shot blocked in the 44th.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Joe Lolley was outstanding for the Sky Blues, scoring a brace as Sydney FC equaled their biggest ever victory.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
