After claiming all three points in their midweek fixture against the Wanderers, our Jets now turn their attention to their second straight home match this week against Macarthur FC on Saturday at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Fresh from our victory against Wanderers on Wednesday evening, our Jets have moved to eighth on the ladder and now have the perfect opportunity to further close in on a spot in the top six when they face Macarthur FC.
The Bulls are also coming off the back of a midweek victory, claiming a 1-nil against Perth Glory, solidifying third spot on the ladder.
Whilst our Jets will be looking for consistency in results starting with their win through the week, they will also be out to gain revenge against the visitors after they were pipped by Macarthur FC 2-1, back in mid-December.
NEWCASTLE JETS V MACARTHUR FC
Date: Saturday, 26th February
Kick-off: 5:05 pm
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
How to Watch: SECURE YOUR TICKETS
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 2020
Played: 3
Jets: 0
Macarthur: 2
Draws: 1
BUILDING CONSISTENCY
Wednesday’s match against the Wanderers saw the Jets claim their fourth win of the 2021/22 campaign, and our side will be determined to make a habit of winning and hopefully claim their first consecutive win of the season when they host Macarthur.
This Saturday’s fixture is the last scheduled home game for a fortnight, and our team will be determined to make a winning run as we head onto the road as we will face first placed Western United at Mars Stadium next week.
With Macarthur FC only just joining the competition at the start of the last season, the Jets have only had three previous fixtures against the club and will be gunning for their maiden win against the side when they meet this weekend.
The Bulls are continuing to improve after a successful first season in the league – reaching the semi-finals before being knocked out by eventual premiers Melbourne City – and currently sit in a promising spot on the ladder – third, and like the Jets, still have games in hand.
CREATIVITY AROUND THE PARK
Daniel Penha’s delightful through ball for Angus Thurgate’s winner against the Wanderers was his seventh of the season – the league’s highest. It continues a stellar debut season in the A-League for the Brazilian, who has become one of the Jets main attacking threats.
However, Macarthur isn’t without their own midfield maestro as Daniel De Silva sitting second in the league for assists. The 24-year-old has laid on five goals so far this season and last time out put in a man-of-the-match performance, where he scored a goal and set up the late winner for Lachlan Rose.
Both sides have shown they have the ability to create goals and have scored a similar amount of goals for the season – the Jets have scored 18 goals and Macarthur, 19. Whilst for goals conceded, Macarthur has let in 17 goals, two less than the Jets.
Interestingly, Macarthur has had 12 different goal scorers this season, with Lachlan Rose leading the way with three goals, whilst the Jets have had six unique goal scorers but Georgian Gun, Beqa Mikeltadze has scored seven.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mario Arques (Newcastle Jets)
A man to watch out for this weekend is our Spanish midfielder who is slowly working his way into a consistent starter, especially after following a strong performance last time out against Wanderers.
During the week, Arques made more passes than anyone else on the pitch with 57, and with an accuracy of 88% across the game, and his partnership with fellow midfielder Angus Thurgate might prove the key against a direct opposition of Ulises Davila, Tommy Oar and Charles M’Mombwa.
Having only made two starts so far this season, the Spaniard will be looking to build his rhythm and to be the one who sets the tempo and controls our possession.
Craig Noone (Macarthur FC)
The 34-year-old Englishman has showcased a rapid start to the season, with two goals and two assists to his name – one of those being a Goal of the Year contender.
He leads the league in crosses made (110), and has made 34 key passes from his 12 matches proving the threat he posses from out wide.
With experience at big UK clubs Brighton & Hove Albion and Cardiff City, as well as a championship season at Melbourne City last campaign, Noone will have to be someone our defenders, particularly our fullbacks – Hoffman, Ingham and Murnane – are cautious of.
STATS & FACTS
This Saturday’s clash will be just our fourth against the Bulls and our Jets are still on the hunt for our first victory in the tie.
The good news for the neutral is that in all three games played between the two sides, neither have been kept scoreless by the other and if their recent goalscoring form is anything to go off, it may just be the same this weekend.
Both sides are two of the best goalscoring sides in the competition and sit near the top for most scored – averaging 1.6 goals a game.
Despite that though, when you look at average possession, the sides are on the complete opposite sides of the spectrum. Our Jets lead the league with an average of 57% a game, while Macarthur have seen the least amount of ball in the league, averaging 44% a game. Similarly, our passing stats are the same with our Jets averaging almost 140 more passes a match.
The Jets also enter this game as the most fouled team in the competition having received 171 fouls against us.
