Match preview: Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United

Dominic Unwin 1545948684,1545949061

The Hyundai A-League enters the middle third of the 2018/19 Season with Newcastle Jets hosting Adelaide United at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 

Newcastle's 2-1 victory over Central Coast Mariners in their Round 9 F3 Derby was timely, to say the least, as it kept them within touching distance of Adelaide, Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne City. 

That win was preceded by a 2-0 loss to ladder-leaders Perth Glory, with the past two weeks epitomising the 2018 Hyundai A-League Grand Final losers' form.

WATCH FOR FREE: How to watch the Hyundai A-League LIVE and FREE
HEROIC MOMENTS: Redemption for Jamieson in pulsating Melbourne Derby
TALKING POINTS: Are Pheonix the real deal in the Hyundai A-League

Newcastle appeared to be a shell of their clinical selves from the 2017/18 Season, but are now beginning to threaten as Rodrigo Vargas and Jair find some lethal form. 

Missing media item.


While in the Reds camp, Adelaide United will feel they dropped two points after all their hard work against Western Sydney Wanderers on Boxing Day. 

Adelaide overturned a 1-0 deficit, before a red card to Jordan Elsey and goal to Bruce Kamau meant the Reds had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

Marco Kurz's side started the 2018/19 Season so brightly, but recorded consecutive 2-0 losses to both Melbourne sides in Rounds 7 and 8, respectively. 

That's put them in and amongst the pack chasing Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory, and in a position that they may perhaps believe does not reflect their true quality.

Regardless, Sunday night is pivotal for both sides as a loss does neither any favours in their pursuit of finals football. 

Key Opta stats

  • Newcastle Jets are undefeated in their last four games at home against Adelaide United, (W2 D2) and haven’t conceded multiple goals in a home game to the Reds since October 2012 (0-2).

  • Newcastle Jets’s conversion rate of 6.5% (9 goals from 139 shots) is the lowest in the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season.

  • Adelaide United haven’t trailed at half-time in any of their last five games away from home, going on to win three games while losing the remaining two.

Telstra banner

Ins and outs

Newcastle Jets: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimi PETRATOS, 8.Jair, 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Ronald VARGAS, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 14.Kaine SHEPPARD, 16.Nick COWBURN, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 32.Angus THURGATE, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 16.Nick COWBURN (promoted), 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 24.Joe CHAMPNESS (foot – TBC)

 Adelaide United squad: 1.Daniel MARGUŠ (gk), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 4.Ryan STRAIN, 5.Taylor REGAN, 6.Vince LIA, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.Isaías SÁNCHEZ (c), 10.Ken ILSØ, 11.Craig GOODWIN, 14.George BLACKWOOD, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIĆ, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 22.Michael JAKOBSEN, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 27.Louis D’ARRIGO, 32.Carlo ARMIENTO

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 14.George BLACKWOOD (promoted), 27.Louis D’ARRIGO (promoted), 32.Carlo ARMIENTO (promoted)

Outs: 23.Jordan ELSEY (suspended - 1 week)

Unavailable: 9.Baba DIAWARA (knee), 18.Lachlan BROOK (knee), 31.Mirko BOLAND (hamstring), 33.Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS (quad)

How to watch

Tune in to FOX SPORTS 505 at 7:00pm AEDT or watch through the  MyFootball Live App.

Tickets

Grab your tickets to the game here!

New free to air banner