After a month of false starts, our Newcastle Jets look to finally return to the field against rivals Central Coast Mariners for another F3 derby at Central Coast Stadium this Saturday evening.
With our last three matches being postponed due COVID, our Jets have not taken the field since Round Five clash against Macarthur FC back in mid-December. The Mariners will also be making their return to the pitch after an extended layoff to take part in what is the second of three F3 Derbies scheduled this regular season.
It goes without saying the two sides share a storied history in the hotly contested rivalry and with the Jets unable to capitalise in their opening match of this season against the Mariners, they will be eager to turn the tide back in their favour in a winning way.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS V NEWCASTLE JETS
Date: Saturday 15 January
Kick-off: 5:05 pm
Venue: Central Coast Stadium
How to Watch: Paramount+
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 2005
Played: 54
Jets: 18
Mariners: 18
Draw: 18
MAGIC OF THE DERBY
There are few fixtures like it in the Isuzu UTE A-League, with the two sides’ rivalry dating back to the Mariners’ inception in 2005.
Amazingly in that time, our records are completely identical with each side recording 18 wins, playing out 18 draws and, most remarkably, have scored the exact same number of goals with 65.
Both sides hold a slight advantage over their rival when playing at their home ground, however that can often count for nothing in such a traditionally spirited matchup as both claimed victory recently when playing at their opponents ground.
Jets fans may remember the last time we travelled down the M1 in Round 23 of last season, where we claimed a 2-0 victory with young gun Lucas Mauragis scoring his first ever A-Leagues goal, to complement an earlier strike from veteran Roy O’Donovan.
RETURNING THE FAVOUR
After falling short in our opening match of the season, the Jets will be more determined than ever to claim all three points at Central Coast Stadium to get revenge and regain bragging rights.
The Jets have gone on to produce some attractive football since that opening match, with the side near the top for attacking statistics in both assists (8) and goals scored (10).
However, despite that showcase of quality football, our team are sitting in ninth position and they’ll be desperate to convert their form into competition points in order to make up ground on the top sides. They currently sit four points behind the fourth-placed Mariners after five games.
The Mariners were enjoying a strong start to their season until also having their matches postponed after they claimed three wins, two losses and are one of two teams that are yet to draw a match this season.
With all that being said, this edition of the F3 Derby looks certain to see one side walk away winners – with the fixture not producing a draw in their last four clashes.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jordan Elsey (Newcastle Jets)
Without a doubt the Jets attacking prowess has been one of the highlights in the early parts of the season, but after all, football is a two-part game, and our centre back Jordan Elsey has been a notable addition to our new look defensive line this year.
Elsey arrived at the Jets this pre-season with over 120+ games of experience from Adelaide United, his time at the club highlighted by being a part of the 2016 championship winning squad. Since arriving at the Jets, the 27-year-old has gone on to forming a combination with captain Matt Jurman in our opening four matches in the season.
He was a notable missing name in our Round Five clash against Macarthur FC due to illness, and has become a key figure for the Jets defensive line where he has played every minute of the games he has appeared in.
Elsey will need to put an end to the attacking raids Mariners will throw at us if we are to win this weekend, as well as being one to kickstart ours as well. He’s showcased crisp passing from the back, where he averages 61 successful passes a match – the second most of anyone in the team.
Marco Urena (Central Coast Mariners)
Urena has become a key figure in the Mariners attack since his arrival to the Coast last season.
The striker has gone on to strike seven goals in his 27 games with the club, and Costa Rican international has close to 10 years of experience with the Los Ticos.
31 years old, he has been part of squads that have featured in the last two World Cup’s – claiming 15 goals during his 67 international caps.
Urena has become a fan favourite during his time with our rivals, scoring five goals in his A-League debut season last year, and further complementing that with a team high two goals so far this season. He will be sure to try his luck in front of goal this weekend, with his 24 shots on goal pitting him amongst the more prominent shooters in the competition.
STATS & FACTS
The F3 derby is not only a date circled on the calendar by fans of each side, but for many of the neutral supporters also with the fixture often producing intense and high energy football.
This clash looks to be no different with Mariners’ striker Marco Urena and our midfield maestro Daniel Penha both in the top five for shots at goal in the competition. Urena is averaging 4.8 while Penha fires off 4.4 shots at goal a game respectively.
Our attacking trio of Yuel, Boumal and Mikeltadze are also key men to watchwith their combined eight goals contributing to the Jets recording the highest goal-per-game average so far this season. We currently average two goals a game, compared to the Mariners who are at 1.4 goals.
If that doesn’t provide enough excitement, both the Jets and Mariners also lead the competition for shots on target per game. Our Jets average six shots on target per match and the Mariners have just over five a game.
Our side will be looking to overcome the Mariners home ground advantage and to improve on the seven wins we’ve attained from the 27 appearances we’ve made at Central Coast Stadium.
