‘The result kills you’: Newcastle stumble again but O’Donovan offers cure
The welcome sight of Roy O’Donovan’s name on the score-sheet might just be enough to lighten the gut-wrenching pain of Newcastle Jets’ 2-1 defeat to Adelaide United.
O’Donovan, playing in his second start since returning from his lengthy suspension, looked to have rescued the Jets from another profligate display at home in Sunday’s Hyundai A-League clash.
But the Irishman – who tallied his first Hyundai A-League goal since April with a neat 75th minute header – admitted the Jets were crushed after falling to Craig Goodwin’s last-gasp penalty.
Newcastle have taken more shots than any other team in the competition but boast a meagre return of 10 goals, and were once again lamenting their lack of conviction after letting 27 shots fly against the Reds.
“The result kills you,” O’Donovan told FOX SPORTS after the match.
“I thought we played well and controlled the game. Paul Izzo was superb for them, [he made] a couple of great saves.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose, but that’s football. As soon as we scored I didn’t see us losing the game, they hadn’t had a chance in the second half, had one breakaway and Boogs [Nigel Boogaard] kind of ummed and ahhed about it.
“It’s one of those... we have to back him up because he’s been brilliant all year, it’s frustrating for him, it’s frustrating for us.
“But we should’ve won the game, we had enough chance to win the game.”
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O’Donovan scored nine goals in 15 starts for Ernie Merrick’s side last season, and despite the heart-breaking nature of Sunday’s defeat, the return of the prolific forward might just be a turning point in the Jets’ campaign.
Newcastle certainly need to draw a line in the sand soon, and O’Donovan’s bullish presence at the tip of the Jets attack may remedy the goal-scoring woes that have plagued the Novocastrians so far.
According to the forward, the floodgates are going to open for last season’s Grand Finalists.
“It’s very frustrating. But all you can do is train well and play well and I think we’re doing that.
“I think it’s going to turn. We’re going to start getting a run of wins together we just have to stay focused.”
