The race for the A-League Premiers’ Plate may effectively be over but Newcastle coach Ernie Merrick has warned Sydney FC the title remains very much up for grabs.
Sydney’s late-season slump offered the Jets an unprecedented chance to slash the league leaders’ lead to two points with three rounds remaining.
But the opportunity went as quickly as it came, as Merrick’s men fell 5-2 in Adelaide on Friday night and the Sky Blues stole a 2-1 injury-time win over coachless Central Coast on Saturday.
With an eight-point gap restored, Sydney sit a single point away from sewing up a second-successive premiership.
And while Merrick graciously accepted Sydney would get that job done, he had different ideas about the defending champions’ quest for back-to-back titles.
As it stands, both sides will secure direct home semi-finals, meaning they can only meet again in the grand final.
“Sydney will win the Premiers’ Plate and they deserve it,” Merrick said.
“Graham Arnold has done a great job. I never expected to be anything better than second.
“They’ve got a good lead, they’re struggling a wee bit with the ACL as well as the league, but they deserve it.
“It might be different in the finals though.”
Indeed, Sydney were again unremarkable by their own high standards, and it was only through Matt Simon’s late winner that Arnold’s side did not endure a fifth winless game in Gosford.
A number of players appeared off their usual pace and golden-boot leader Bobo spurned another magnificent chance to equal Bruno Fornaroli’s all-time regular-season goal record of 23.
Arnold admitted the collective output must improve come finals time.
“Yeah, but we’ll have both finals at Allianz, that’s our fortress and they’ve got to come to us,” Arnold said.
“Okay, we’ve had a couple of weeks that haven’t been great.
“But when you speak about reality we’re on 55 points, we’re eight clear, and we’ve scored 57 goals and conceded 20.
“I think that’s a pretty good season.”
The Jets have their own form issues to address following a flat showing against the fifth-placed Reds – their first loss in seven games.
“We’ve got to accept this for what it is – a kick up the back side – and move on to prepare for finals football,” Merrick said.
“Hopefully we can pick up and learn from that game.
“We’ll have Dimi (Petratos) and Roy (O’Donovan) back next weekend, for what will be an important home game against Melbourne City.”
City have leapfrogged back into third after thrashing Western Sydney 3-0 at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Melbourne Victory remain two points shy in fourth after going down 1-0 to Perth late on Sunday.
Brisbane’s 2-2 draw with Wellington in New Zealand leaves the seventh-placed Roar and eighth-placed Glory on equal terms, one point adrift of the Wanderers in sixth.
R King
Guest
Having seen all of their home games this year and have seen them at their worse and when at 80% yes Needles I think we have the game to worry SFC.
R King
Guest
LOL....I agree Kanga, on our day and with a decent Referee anything can happen.
Nemesis
Guest
SydFC & Newcastle were miles ahead of the competition 12 weeks ago, but now the gap no longer exists. Big chance this season both Top 2 teams get knocked out in their first matches in the Semi Finals. A Melbourne Derby Grand Final is now a highly likely outcome - something that would never have been contemplated 12 weeks ago.
Kangajets
Guest
One job. The grand final hasn’t been played yet . That’s all we talk about, must be our rugby league tradition of grand finals matter the most ?
Kangajets
Guest
No worries, that’s your opinion I don’t think anyone is that great , that’s why on their day , Adelaide can beat anyone imo .
Kangajets
Guest
The jets have fluked a few wins this year , they will sort themselves out Boogard leadership is missing . They just need to fluke 2 more to win the g f I think victory are the hardest to beat I’m not sure Sydney FC will beat victory if they meet in the semis .
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Game of the round coming up this weekend is Jets v City. 2nd vs 3rd. Gonna be a humdinger :)
Waz
Roar Rookie
No they’re not, they’re way off being “as good as anyone” on any day.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Kanga, Let’s say it how it is, Jets are playing poorly and fluked wins against Wellington and Brisbane but got humiliated away to Adelaide. They need to sort themselves out or we’re all watching a Sydney/Melbourne GF.
Waz
Roar Rookie
You had one job Jets .... ONE JOB .... and you stuffed it up ?
Kangajets
Guest
Adelaide are as good as anyone on their day Seems like the top 5 teams are heading into the finals with a chance to win the grand final
Needles
Guest
Ha, the Reds! Surely you're having a laugh
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
The chase for the premiership appears all but over.
R King
Guest
AUFC are quietly going about snatching a top 4 spot. Although not firering on all 4 cylinders we are showing enough to make SFC think that they won't want to meet us in a finals match. Both the JETs and the REDs have shown they have the game to show up SFC. They won't have any outside help, in the form of a 'ballboy' to save them this time. Hopefully the FFA will take a note out of UEFAs book if they do employ the same ballboys.
punter
Guest
I watched SFC on Sat night & they were woeful, the zest, no intensity, very lucky to win & while they have been the best team this year & deserve to win the premiership. They are there for the taking in the Finals series, we are not the team of earlier this year.
Kangajets
Guest
The jets are going to improve a lot , boogard loss is profound , and a huge drop in intensity since the Sydney game . The 2 gsmes against Wellington and Adelaide have been very poor by the jets , hopefully they can re set their batteries now and get back on the front foot. Sydney undoubtedly deserve the plate .