Last time these sides together, Adelaide United won 7-0 at Hindmarsh. Will the Reds match that feat, or will the Newcastle Jets get revenge? Join us for live scores, commentary and a bit of a chin wag from 5pm (AEDT).
The Jets aren’t flying high. Having been cushioned by the Wanderers for most of the season, a recent upturn in Western Sydney’s form has seen the pillow pulled out from underneath the Jets, making a giant thud and leaving the Novocastrians stone last.
Also on the downside is probably everything about the club. The players haven’t been good, the owner’s in a bit of trouble, the coach has faced mutinies, and so on.
However, on the upside is the fact that just last week the Jets beat the Wanderers in Parramatta, their first win since their first match against Adelaide this season, a 2-1 win at Hunter Stadium on December 19. While that was long ago, keep in mind the sizeable break the league took for the Asian Cup.
There isn’t much in this game for the Jets, as they’re more than the maximum 15 points from the lowest team in the top six (that’s Melbourne City, who are on 30 points).
On the other hand, Adelaide will be looking forward to this game to cement their place in the top six. The only team capable of knocking them out of the top six is the Brisbane Roar, who are in seventh, have a game in hand, but 12 fewer points. Given that there is only six games left for the Roar, three points at Hunter for the Reds would all but lock up their finals spot.
The only outs from this week is the Reds’ Tarek Elrich, who’s been called up to the Socceroos, as well as youngsters Andrew Hoole (Jets) and John Hall (Reds), who are with the Olyroos. Otherwise, apart from their already crocked, the teams will be raring to go. Sorta. I imagine the Jets players can’t wait for their end-of-season holiday.
Prediction
Expect Adelaide to go through the motions, and only really crank into gear if Newcastle begin to play well. Seeing as Newcastle are only playing for pride, which is something you can’t make money from in this capitalist world of ours, don’t expect them to put up much of a fight.
Newcastle Jets 1 – 3 Adelaide United
Fadida
Guest
Ha! I like your reporting style :)
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
FULLTIME PEEEEEEP! That's it. We're done. ADL successfully held out the impotent Jets with 10 men for the last 5 minutes or so. The whistle is received with boos, for a reason I'm not so sure. The Jets have been crap all season. That's all for me. I've got a lamb roast and a Cricket World Cup final waiting for me. If you have either or both, enjoy!!! If you don't, then I don't know how to break it to you NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
94' Amateur Saturday scrambling from the Jets. Time's running out, but maybe Galekovic's rolling away as bought the Jets 30 more seconds NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
92' Pavicevic gets a yellow for his efforts. Boogaard is now a bit worse for wear, but ADL have borught him out to sit on the bench NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
92' Balls go wayward, feints and tricks are telegraphed, there's a lot of no-more-ideas long balls. We get a bit of excitement as Pavicevic clatters into Galekovic, who was clearing a ball outside his box, making the goalkeeper squeal. NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
90' If it was Football Manager, NEW would be on 'Overload'. Unfortunately, as I suspect they've been in every game this year, they're rather crap at attacking NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
88' 4 mins have been added on, or will be. NEW start really getting that ball forward NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
87' NEW have made their final substitution, a defender off for an attacker (Pavicevic) on. Meanwhile, Alivodic finds himself with a magical chance, in the 18, 15 from the line, and about 3m right of the post, but in classic A-League style skies it, and then blames his crap shot on his teammate not doing something or other NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
82' Word's come through that Boogaard has 100% movement in his arms and legs, which is the news we've all wanted to hear NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
81' Boogaard's been stretchered off and play has resumed. ADL have only 10 men to play with NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
80' The PA just announced 6,000 fans have rocked up to this game. Not bad, I guess, considering the Jets' season. NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
79' Boogaard can do the thumbs up, which is a good sign NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
75' There's a break, because Nigel Boogaard just landed on his noggin vertically after getting a bit too enthusiastic jumping for a ball. Hopefully nothing bad has gone down. NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
74' Erm, not much is happening so I'll just leave you with what Andy Harper just said "Newcastle are in it, Adelaide are winning but not comfortable" NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
71' Carn Newcastle, give us a game!! NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
70' Binsies (Phil Stubbins) has played all his cards, hoping to change the game and get the Jets off the bottom NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
69' Just a bit of news, Adama Traore, formerly of Gold Coast United and Melbourne Victory, is now playing for Champions League quarter-finalists Basel, after spending 6 months at Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes (who he joined from Melb.) NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
67' Cirio, receives ball, runs, beats, cuts in, and unleashes fierce fierce shot at Kennedy, who saves NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
66' ADL now find themselves counter-attacking, and rather lazily go about it. There's a cross that misses no-one before the Jets' resident Korean clears it out NEW 0 - 1 ADL
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
63' Alidovic is finding some space for the Jets, space that wasn't there 30 minutes ago. His interplay between him and Montano hints at poor coaching. Unlike ADL, NEW don't seem to have a set plan of attack NEW 0 - 1 ADL