Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Ben Kennedy believes his side can still snare fourth place and a home semi-final despite sitting in seventh place with five rounds of the Hyundai A-League remaining.
Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Ben Kennedy believes his side can still snare fourth place and a home semi-final despite sitting in seventh place with five rounds of the Hyundai A-League remaining.
The Jets suffered their first loss in five games against the Glory in Perth last weekend and are now two points out of the top six on 28 points.
But a win against Adelaide United at Hunter Stadium on Friday night would boost the Jets into fifth spot and just two points behind the fourth-placed Wellington Phoenix with the rest of the round to be played.
"Being at home we need to win and if we get the three points on the Friday night we put the pressure back on the other teams around us," Kennedy told Sportal on Wednesday.
"If we win I think we can go as high as fifth and sit a couple of points off fourth so whilst it is a big match we are looking forward to it and being at home we confident we can get the victory."
"Obviously it would be good to have a home semi and that is what we are aiming to do."
Kennedy acknowledged the loss to the Glory has broken Newcastle's run and momentum of three straight wins but said he doesn't think the defeat in Perth will disrupt the club's charge to the finals.
"Hopefully it doesn't have too much of an impact," he said.
"It is always tough going over there to play but we are back at home on Friday night against Adelaide and looking to get a victory and look forward to hoping to make the finals."
"If we win the majority of our remaining matches we should get there. We are just concentrating on Adelaide this week and hopefully getting the three points and worry about the rest after that."
The Jets have a fairly good run into the finals with home matches against Adelaide, Gold Coast and Brisbane as well as crucial away clashes against Victory and Sydney FC and Kennedy believes that the three games at Hunter Stadium, where they have been extremely competitive all season, will hold them in good stead for the run into the finals as long as the team can keep a stable line-up.
"With the three homes game it gives us confidence to win those home games, and we always manage to do well against Brisbane," he said.
"Sydney down there is going to be tough but by that stage we hope to have a semi-final berth locked up."
"When you don't have many changes it always helps, and hopefully it will stay that way."
"We have shown in the last few weeks we deserve to be in the finals and we hope to stay injury free and suspension free and that will help us."
Personally Kennedy has been in fine form and under coach Gary van Egmond's game plan he plays at times like a sweeper, passing the ball to the defenders.
The stats show that Kennedy touches the ball more than any other goalkeeper in the league and it is something with which he is comfortable.
"It is good to be part of the game and get the ball but sometimes I shouldn't have to, but I am comfortable getting the ball. I have been enjoying it lately and it is good to get a touch of the ball."
"We (the defenders) have played together most of the year and we are comfortable with each other's game, we have done pretty well and we just look to continue that this weekend."
"I have been training hard and lucky enough to be playing well and hopefully I can continue that run into the finals."
This weekend Kennedy pits himself against one of the best custodians in the league in Eugene Galekovic.
"There are some quality keepers in the league and most have been doing pretty well this year," acknowledged Kennedy.
"Eugene has been the best over the last couple of years but it will be good to be up against him this weekend and hopefully our guys can put a few past him."