Newcastle Jets captain Nigel Boogaard says the team must continue to strive to put smiles on the faces of its fans as the Club’s Hyundai A-League 2016/17 season winds down.
The Jets have three matches to play this campaign and each will be against a New South Wales based nemesis.
Saturday’s home fixture against Western Sydney Wanderers will be followed by an away #F3Derby against Central Coast Mariners in Gosford and a final round test at Allianz Stadium against the Hyundai A-League Premiers Sydney FC.
While dejected that the Jets will not participate in the Finals Series, Boogaard today rejected the assertion that there is nothing left to play for for either individuals, the team, or the Club this campaign.
“At the start of the season we openly admitted that the top six was where we needed to be come the end of the season,” Boogaard said.
“That was a goal set not only by the coaching staff and the players but the Club in general.
“So it’s disappointing to not reach that target but we have still got to play for the shirt, play for pride and make sure that we represent this Club the best way that we can.
“That’s by going out this weekend in front of our supporters and getting a result,” he said.
The Jets trained for the first time since their heavy round 24 defeat to Wellington Phoenix at Ray Watt Oval at the University of Newcastle on Wednesday.
Following the session Boogaard faced the local press.
“For us we need to finish as close to the six as we can,” he said. “We need to salvage what we can from the season.”
“The last two results haven’t been great and we admit that, but we have performed better as a squad over the course of the season and two games that we haven’t performed at our best have really cost us.”
“We need to finish off the season on a positive note because there have been periods this season when we’ve produced good football and results. It’s unfortunate that when it’s come to crunch time we’ve been unable to execute.”
“Hopefully there is decent support there for us on the weekend (at McDonald Jones Stadium). Hopefully we can finish the season off at home on a high and give them (the Club’s Members and fans) something to be proud about,” he said.
Kick off between Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday is at 5:35pm.
