After suffering a set-back last weekend against Macarthur FC, the Newcastle Jets return home for the first of two home games these Christmas holiday’s, where they come up against Western Sydney Wanderers in a Boxing Day clash.
The Round Six clash will be the second time the sides have met this season, with their Round Two match at CommBank Stadium ending as a 2-all stalemate.
However, while the Jets have begun to find their feet in the competition in certain areas since that clash, the Wanderers have seemingly struggled and will be looking to get back in the winners’ circle and to push themselves into the top six.
Our Jets will be confident of overturning their poor home record when facing the Wanderers this weekend, as they look to re-affirm themselves as threats in the competition after faltering last week. On the opposite side, the Wanderers will be looking to steady the ship after back-to-back defeats.
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS V NEWCASTLE JETS
Date: Sunday 26 December
Kick-off: 5:05 pm
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
How to Watch: Paramount+
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since: 2012
Played: 26
Jets: 8
Wanderers: 9
Draw: 9
ALL SQUARE
Both sides have had a near identical start to the season – both sit on equal competition points on the ladder, with the Jets only ahead on goal differential.
The Jets and Wanderers sit in 6th and 7th spot on the ladder respectively, with both sides having claimed one win, two draws and two losses in the opening rounds of the competition.
Our side endured a tough day last weekend as a spirited Macarthur FC side handed the Jets their second defeat of the campaign.
The two goals conceded in the match makes a total of eight goals for the season, whilst Western Sydney on-the-other-hand are recovering from a 2-0 defeat against Central Coast Mariners, bringing their tally to six goals conceded this season.
Newcastle’s fire-power has been an early highlight of the season for fans and the side still possesses the most goals of any side in the competition with 10 goals.
On the other side of the field, the Wanderers will be looking to find the back of the net for the first time since Round Three after being held scoreless in consecutive matches, and looking to add to their four goals scored this season.
JETS TO FLIP THE SCRIPT
Western Sydney will be buoyed by their healthy winning percentage when playing the Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones stadium, where they have claimed victory six times in the 12 matches played at the venue.
The Jets will be looking to use their last home performance as the benchmark, which saw them walk away with a 4-0 win against Wellington in their first victory of the season.
We have only recorded three victories against Wanderers at the venue though, with our most recent being a 2-0 victory back in 2019.
The even record between the two teams is indicative of the new rivalry that’s been brewing in the last few years, with both boasting former players from the opposing club, such as Wanderer Dimi Petratos, who has the most goals of anyone fixture (5) but with those goals coming from his time with the Jets.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Daniel Penha (Newcastle Jets)
While many may not have known about Daniel Penha when he was signed during the off-season, he’s quickly announced himself as a star in the making, and grabbed headlines after our FFA Cup match against Western United, where he scored a cracking free kick.
Since then, the Brazllian has become a regular in the starting XI for our opening games, and has become a crowd favourite with his youthful exuberant style of play and his playmaking skills being a direct catalyst for the excellent goal-scoring record of the team.
Penha has laid on the equal most assists in the league with three, whilst also bagging one of his own against the Phoenix. Look for the attacking midfielder to continue providing plenty of chances for in-form striker Beqa Miketadze, with the 23-year-old registering 15 shot assists so far this season – the most in the squad.
Tomer Hemed (Western Sydney Wanderers)
The Israeli international is in his first year with the Club, arriving from a one-year stint with Wellington Phoenix where he bagged 11 goals. He’s got a wealth of experience from his time in the Spanish and English leagues, and is currently the top goal scorer for the side with two to his name.
A storied resume highlighted by a 30 goal stint with current English Premier League team Brighton & Hove Albion, Hemed also has also represented his nation of Israel 38 times – scoring 17 goals.
Hemed was a goal scorer alongside former Jet, Bernie Ibini last time the two sides faced each other.
STATS & FACTS
As our head-to-head record suggests, history has shown match between the Jets and the Wanderers is typically a tight affair.
The Jets are looking to claim their ninth win against the side and their first at home since 2019.
Our high-octane style of play will be sure to be on display this weekend, with our Jets leading the competition for assists, with eight. The Wanderers however, have only registered the sole assist.
We continue to lead the competition for passes completed, with our side completing 3,094 so far this season, but the Wanderers are only just behind with 2,604.
This match promises to be an entertaining clash with plenty of attacking flair as each team has made over 80+ shots at goal in the opening rounds, sitting among the most in the league.
