The race for the A-League Premiers’ Plate is still not over, with six points separating Newcastle from leaders Sydney FC.
Less than a week ago the rampant Sky Blues were enjoying an 11-point cushion at the top and appeared set to run away with the minor trophy for a second straight season.
But Sunday’s goalless draw with a youthful Adelaide side stopped the defending champions in their tracks, holding them at 39 points with 11 rounds remaining.
Meanwhile, the Jets kept up their winning habit with a 1-0 home victory over struggling Brisbane and continue to breathe down the neck of Graham Arnold’s men.
And they’re setting their own records while they’re at it, now the only team in A-League history to have scored in each of their opening 16 games.
Although Ernie Merrick’s side are not far off securing their first finals berth in eight years, the coach was adamant there was no risk of complacency setting in.
“I’ve found the boys very focused, keen to always improve,” Merrick said.
“We look forward to teams putting out their best team because we feel that’s the best way to improve.”
The injury-ravaged Reds, who were forced to hand three players their debuts, managed the almost unthinkable by keeping Sydney scoreless, something not done since Central Coast’s 2-0 win in Gosford at the start of November.
This week the Sky Blues host the Mariners and will do everything to ensure they cannot impose a similar result at the Allianz Stadium fortress.
Arnold was comfortable with the remaining fixtures.
“We only travel three more times out of NSW from now until the end of the season,” he said.
“I think that’s our 10th away game so we’ve got a lot of home games to come and we’re strong at home.”
Paul Okon’s plucky Central Coast side couldn’t put away a 10-man Melbourne City on Sunday, twice conceding the lead to draw 2-2.
Rarely sighted marquee man Marcin Budzinski scored in the 86th minute to rescue City coach Warren Joyce who has been reluctant to play him.
Joyce refused to confirm Budzinski would play a big part in the latter half of City’s season.
“It’s just competition for places,” Joyce said.
“And that he’s took time to settle in … it’s time to adapt and take on board some of the information.
“He’s far fitter now than when he arrived at the club and it’s just the in between time of him getting up to fitness.”
City sit third, seven points behind the Jets and only three ahead of local rivals Melbourne Victory, who defeated Perth 3-2 on Saturday.
Western Sydney drew 1-1 with the Phoenix in Wellington.
Griffo
Roar Guru
He was certainly popular Kanga with his white headband. Could come in and swing the game, too. Just like the new Rodriguez although the 'Pato' variety is a chance of being on the injury list for Wellington in Saturday from bruised ankle from the Brisbane game. :-(
Midfielder
Guest
Agree and when they play on his proper side ... i.e the right side rather than left side his skill will be showcased.
Kanga Rodriguez
Guest
Midfielder Lachy Wales is a gun
chris
Guest
Kanga we dont say "flag" here in NSW :) Premierships!
Midfielder
Guest
AS a Mariner fan I wish the Jerks well ...
Ken
Guest
WTF minor premiers there is no such thing in footballl who writes this crap some league player .not worth reading
Kanga Rodriguez
Guest
Thanks JB I was thinking he had links with Sunshine George cross . I also remember the two conference system also . Despite the ultimate demise of the nsl , there were some terrific teams and players from every state . The very first football match I remember going to was at Newcastle kB United and in the early days their crowds were pretty big . Cheers
j,binnie
Guest
Kanga- Ernies coaching career began at a troubled time in the NSL,,the time when 2 conferences were formed and lots of "new" clubs were admitted. Two of these identities were Preston Lions and Sunshine George Cross and Ernie is shown as having been there but not listed as a head coach. His career had actually begun in 1979 when he was listed as an assistant at two Victorian league teams and from 92-2004 he appears to have been employed at the Victorian Institute of Sport and that doesn't surprise me for the Australian Director of Coaching at that time liked to employ qualified schoolteachers in such jobs, and of course Ernie is a qualified PE teacher. In 2004 the NSL folded and by that time Ernie has been working in Victoria for 6 years so, with"new" clubs looking for established identities Victory procured his services.The rest is "modern" history. Cheers jb.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
The Easter Bunny is real. The Eels are rubbish though. All the money is along the north shore & eastern suburbs in Sydney. However, the grassroots power is in the west, which just happens to be a huge growth corridor to boot. You watch all the North Shore Snobs (like me) jump on board of this fantastic club in the making. Its power will be unequalled around Australia when this happens.
Kanga Rodriguez
Guest
Rick Parramatta eels are the heart of Western Sydney and have been for 75 years. 4 flags for parramatta and none since 1986. Tough times in Western Sydney rick . Next you will be telling me that parramatta are going to win a premiership or the Easter bunny isn’t real
chris
Guest
Sorry JB did I miss something? Whos the parent body?
j,binnie
Guest
Chris - Just the ROAR !!!!!!, What abou tthe parent body??? Cheers jb.
At work
Roar Rookie
Yes I've heard that WSW are going to become the biggest club in Australia... They're getting a new stadium and the population of Western Sydney is growing, blah blah blah... I'll believe it when I see it Rick
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
At work Refer to my comment directed at Kanga.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Kanga, you may be right, but sustained power does not come via rich businessmen. They ultimately grow tired of their plaything before spitting the dummy and doing a Clive Palmer. Sustained success comes from backend infrastructure. I'm sorry to say, but Newcastle will most likely never become a powerhouse simply because they don't have a large enough market to capture. WSW, on the other hand, can not only become the biggest football club in the A-League but quite possibly the biggest football brand in Australia. Western Sydney's growth is incredible, along with the wealth of Sydney in general. I'm dead serious: I'd be surprised if the WSW is not the biggest sporting entity in Sydney within the next decade. The ca
Kanga Rodriguez
Guest
Fadida Merrick found some gems at Melbourne Victory , I’m sure Nemesis can remind me ,, Fred and Hernandez Did Merrick have similar success in the old nsl ?? Maybe J B can fill me in about Merrick coaching in the Nsl ??? Arnold recruiting at Sydney speaks for itself And of course the Spanish and Argentine players Gombau and GUI amor brought to Adelaide have been good Thinking back to season 2. Do you remember when the jets had a Columbian called Milton Rodriguez,, he was a magic player under van egmond.
At work
Roar Rookie
Let's not also forgot Juninho (class), former Socceroos Emerton, Lucas Neil (didn't work out) & Zdrilla, Ognenovski. Looking across our recruiting over the years there's been plenty of quality brought in to help on or off the field, or both.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I don't believe any other Asian football league has a similar setup to the A-League. As such, the A-League Premiership is going to appear to be the most important from the AFC's perspective. I would agree that the Premiership is more important than the Championship should they be mutually exclusive. However, they're not in this case, which means it's hard to tell if certain teams are taking one more seriously at the expense of the other. A true premier can therefore never be ascertained under the current structure, especially one where the draw is compromised and inequitable.
punter
Guest
Broxham is not a marquee, not sure if you trying to compare Broxham's career to Alosi. But if he did & was brought in as a marquee, he would be a failure, though he did score to win the finals series (not the premiership) in 14/15.
Kanga Rodriguez
Guest
Punter 1-0 nemesis