Ruben Zadkovich says the Jets are maintaining a positive frame of mind heading into Friday night’s clash with Perth Glory.
Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets captain Ruben Zadkovich says the Jets are maintaining a positive frame of mind heading into Friday night-s crucial showdown with Perth Glory at Hunter Stadium.
With Sunday-s 5-0 loss to Melbourne Victory only Newcastle-s second defeat in their past 10 matches, Zadkovich said morale within the playing squad is still high heading into Friday-s match.
Among other things, Zadkovich said the Jets will be drawing on the positives from their hoodoo-breaking win in Wellington earlier in the week as they look to extend their unbeaten run at home to seven games when they face the Glory.
“We had a good win in Wellington and its something that since I-ve been at the Jets we haven-t been able to achieve,” Zadkovich said.
“I think it-s been seven years since we-ve done that, so it was a big result.
“With this young squad, all the mistakes that we made in the game against Melbourne, we-ll look at and we-ll learn from. That-s the way we stay positive.
“We-re looking to improve and blood these young players and we-ve got to stick by them.
“(The table) close, it-s going to come right down to the wire and we-ve been saying that for weeks. We-re not looking too far ahead, we-re taking each game on its merits.
“We had a good win against Wellington and a poor game against Melbourne, but now we-re looking to get a good win against Perth at home.”
Zadkovich said lapses of concentration in defence proved to be the Jets- downfall against the Victory of Sunday.
“I think tactically in the game there were moments where we made incorrect decisions and they cost us,” Zadkoivch said.
“I think us as a playing group really didn-t feel like it was a 5-0 game.
“There were moments in the game where we controlled the play and we passed the ball around quite well, but defensively there were some lapses in concentration and decision making.
“Melbourne have proven when they get it together at home they-re a really good side.
“I still felt like we were in the game, but when you concede goals that are quite cheap where people aren-t in the right position or the right shape and structure, good teams are going to expose you.”
Zadkovich said the manner in which the Victory were able to bounce back from a 6-2 thrashing at the hands of the Central Coast Mariners to beat the Jets 5-0 only a week later, was evidence of the topsy-turvy nature of the A-League competition.
“We played the Central Coast at the Central Coast earlier this year and we should have beat them. We outplayed them and had a 0-0 draw,” Zadkovich explained.
“Melbourne went there and got beat 6-2 and then we-ve lost 5-0 to Melbourne.
“We-ve beat the Central Coast and we-ve beaten Western Sydney earlier this year. Anyone can beat anyone and it-s all about what you do on the day.
“We didn-t get it right against Melbourne, but this Friday we-ll be looking to get it right.
“That-s what football is about, sometimes you get it right and sometimes you get it wrong, but you-ve got to stand by your teammates, stand by each other and really work hard to rectify those mistakes and improve.
“I think if we do that, we can beat Perth.”
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory
Friday, March 8
Hunter Stadium
Kick-off 7.30pm
Tickets from PROticket.
PCYC Newcastle is being supported at this week’s Jets game against the Perth Glory.
The charity box and 20 reserved seating tickets have been donated to PCYC as a reward for participants in their young offender program.
The program aims to give these youngsters a second chance, and, Senior Constable Brendan Haile will be speaking pre-game about the PCYC and its many, vital community programs.
