ROUND 18 PREVIEW: Newcastle Jets vs Wellington Phoenix
Sunday 9 February
Kickoff: 5pm (AEDT), 7pm (NZDT)
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle NSW
Referee: Shaun Evans
The final match of round 18 will see the Wellington Phoenix take on the Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium.
After a decent start to the season the Jets now find themselves towards the bottom of the A-League ladder, tied with the Phoenix on 20 points. However because of the tightness of the ladder the winner of this match will likely move themselves into the top six.
The Jets have not won a game in their last six while the Nix are currently the inform team of the competition having won five of their last seven games and two of their last three games on the road.
The Jets will be without Joel Griffiths through suspension while the Nix are missing Michael Boxall, Albert Riera and Kenny Cunningham from last weeks win over Adelaide.
Head to head: Played 20. Jets 5, Phoenix 12, Draws 3.
Previous encounter: Phoenix 0-0 Jets, 27 Oct 2013 (Round 3)
Squads…
Newcastle Jets: 1. Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 3. Taylor REGAN, 4. Kew JALIENS, 6. Zenon CARAVELLA, 7. Andrew HOOLE, 8. Ruben ZADKOVICH (c), 9. Emile HESKEY, 11. Craig GOODWIN, 13. Joey GIBBS, 15. Josh BRILLANTE, 16. Jacob PEPPER, 17. James VIRGILI, 19. Michael BRIDGES, 21. Sam GALLAWAY, 20. Ben KENNEDY (gk), 22. Adam TAGGART, 24. Mitch OXBORROW, 27. Nick WARD
**two to be omitted**
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Glen MOSS (GK), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 3. Reece CAIRA, 6. Josh BRINDELL-SOUTH, 10. Stein HUYSEGEMS, 11. Jeremy BROCKIE, 12. Tyler BOYD, 13. Albert RIERA, 14. Alex RUFER, 15. Jason HICKS, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 20. Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 21. Carlos HERNANDEZ, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Matthew RIDENTON, 24. Roy KRISHNA
**One to be omiteed**
Eyes on: Carlos Hernandez
The Costa Rican has been in superb form of late, scoring a penalty last week and setting up Cunningham with a well weighted through ball for Wellington’ second goal. Under Ernie Merrick Hernandez appears to be playing the way that made him a superstar during his time at Melbourne Victory and with Cunningham and Riera missing this week Hernandez will need to be at his very best if the Phoenix are going to control the midfield play.
Prediction:
The Phoneix have history on their side with the Jets having only won 5 games out of the twenty encounters between the two sides. This week their depth will be tested as they go without three of their form players in Boxall, Cunningham and Riera. The Jets looked good against the Wanderers last week, coming from behind to grab a point and they will return home more confident than they have been in previous weeks.
Nothing separates these two teams on the table and with that in mind it could be that the two play out their second draw of the season against each other.
Jets 1 – 1 Phoenix
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