Merrick: 'We’ve been doing it tough'

Newcastle Jets head coach Ernie Merrick believes his side have been unfortunate to have not scored more goals in the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season. 

The Jets lead the shooting charts in the competition, having taken 140 shots in total, yet are second-last in the league in terms of goals — scoring nine in as many games. 

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MATCH PREVIEW: Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United

But Merrick believes his side are close to turning around their profligacy and will soon be rewarded for their ‘good football’. 

“Look at the chances we are creating: 19, 22 against Perth, 21 against Victory, quite a few against Sydney," Merrick told reporters ahead of Sunday's clash against the Reds. 

"We're playing good football, we need to finish it off.

"We've been pretty mentally tough because the last game against Mariners was an example.

"We've been doing it tough, not scoring goals and then we concede a goal in the 36th minute against the run of play. 

"Instead of the boys dropping their head they pushed on (in the 2-1 win)." 

Despite the apparent drought, Jets head into their Round 10 clash against Adelaide United looking for their third win in four games. 

A 2-0 win against Brisbane Roar was followed by a 2-0 loss at home to Perth, before Ronnie Vargas got them back to winning ways in a 2-1 win in Gosford.

“It’s really important that we start stringing wins together, there’s no doubt about it,” said Merrick.

“It’s about collecting three points. The best place to collect the points are at home, especially with our home crowd at our own stadium, McDonald Jones.

“So it’s very important that we start picking up points, and with two games at home, we’re looking at six points.

“The next game against Adelaide, we’re virtually one point separate. They’re in sixth, we’re in seventh. So this alone is a six-point type game.”