Newcastle Jets' hectic schedule will give the Wellington Phoenix some hope at EnergyAustralia Stadium tonight, but any thought that alone will be enough to get them over the line is well wide of the mark.
Among the early-season bunnies, the Jets have struck back. They've already upset former front-runners Adelaide
United 3-1 and, on Wednesday, were denied a deserved win over leaders Brisbane Roar who needed a late equaliser for 1-1.
"I watched Newcastle against Brisbane," said Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert before Thursday's trip across the Tasman. "They're playing okay, but they've all been at home."
Of the testing schedule which will see the Jets play four games in 12 days, Herbert said: "We're all going to go through that at some stage."
Herbert also alluded to the topsy-turvy table with some teams having played 16 games and others 12. "The imbalance makes it hard and the picture won't become clear until the last half dozen games.
"That makes it important to keep the points coming."
Starting tonight.
The good work of drawing with Melbourne Heart and beating Perth away in the past few weeks has been undone by poor efforts which led to the Phoenix losing by three goals to Adelaide, Brisbane and then Central Coast Mariners.
Of the club's off-field hassles, Herbert said it would be unfair to suggest that was a concern for the players, contributing to the losses.
He's more concerned with what is happening on field.
"The one bad thing is how we still have periods in the game when we seem to switch off," said Herbert.
"They've been creating opportunities but haven't been good enough to put them in the back of the net.
"Against Central Coast we had the chance to get back to 1-1 but couldn't take it.
"Last year, Paul Ifill would have buried it."
Herbert has been forced to make changes for tonight's game.
Midfielder Tim Brown is out suspended with Nicky Ward coming in. Herbert's unsure about defender Jade North as the Socceroo arrives in Sydney from Egypt this morning.
That could mean a start for Troy Hearfield.
The Jets are without Ruben Zadkovich and Ljubo Milicevic who copped their fifth yellow cards in the draw with the Roar and, like Brown who was booked in the Mariners game, face one-match bans.
Likely Phoenix line-up: Mark Paston, Troy Hearfield, Ben Sigmund, Andrew Durante, Manny Muscat, Nick Ward, Simon Elliott, Vince Lia, Paul Ifill, Chris Greenacre, Leo Bertos. Substitutes: Danny Vukovic, Daniel, Mirjan Pavlovic, Dylan McAllister.
Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix
* EnergyAustralia Stadium
* Today 9pm (live SS2)
Ricki Herbert: 'Important to keep the points coming.' Photo / Getty Images
Newcastle Jets' hectic schedule will give the Wellington Phoenix some hope at EnergyAustralia Stadium tonight, but any thought that alone will be enough to get them over the line is well wide of the mark.
Among the early-season bunnies, the Jets have struck back. They've already upset former front-runners Adelaide
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