A-League Preview: Newcastle Jets - North Queensland Fury

Sunday, 20 December, 17:00 AEDT
EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
A-League, Round 20

When the Newcastle Jets welcome the North Queensland Fury to EnergyAustralia Stadium this weekend, there should be a distinctly different feeling within Branko Culina’s squad.

It should be the first time this season that they sense they are unquestionable favourites, following three straight A-League victories, which leaves them one win away from becoming the first side to register four consecutive wins this campaign.

For the more historically learned Jets fan, this sort of scenario should stir up memories of the 2006/07 season, when Gary Egmond affected a memorable resuscitation to take the club to within a breath of a maiden title. It was then that Nick Theodorakopoulos was sacked after a disastrous start to the season and it is now that Branko Culina has had to salvage a season after a similarly poor beginning, which at one stage had the veteran manager under a considerable amount of pressure.

His players seem stronger and more unified after coming through one of the most difficult periods in the club’s history together, as the Jets experience record low crowds and their fair share of off-field dramas (which have admittedly died down in recent months). Nonetheless, one can only admire the job that Culina has done in Newcastle, inheriting a hastily assembled but potentially powerful squad.

North Queensland Fury manager Ian Ferguson doesn’t have the same qualities in his playing personnel but continues to do his best to grind out results, though there have been flashes of brilliance coupled with the hard work in Townsville. Ultimately, it is looking less likely that the Fury will be able to sneak into the finals, though there is a conspicuous effort to lay the foundations within the local community that is encouraging for the future - which is more than can be said for some other A-League clubs…

FORM GUIDE

Newcastle Jets

Nov 8.  Newcastle Jets 2-0 North Queensland Fury
Nov 22.  Newcastle Jets 0-1 Wellington Phoenix
Nov 29.  Sydney FC 1-3 Newcastle Jets
Dec 4.  Adelaide United 0-2 Newcastle Jets
Nov 13.  Newcastle Jets 3-2 Gold Coast United

North Queensland Fury

Nov 21.  North Queensland Fury 1-5 Central Coast Mariners
Nov 28.  North Queensland Fury 2-1 Adelaide United
Dec 5.  Sydney FC 4-1 North Queensland Fury
Dec 11.  North Queensland Fury 1-0 Perth Glory
Nov 16.  Brisbane Roar 2-0 North Queensland Fury

Head-to-Head: Newcastle Jets wins 1, North Queensland Fury wins 0 (0 draws)

TEAM NEWS

Newcastle Jets

In:  Angelo Costanzo (promoted), Donny De Groot (promoted), Ali Abbas (promoted)

Out: Fabio Vignaroli (knee - indefinite), Ben Kantarovski (suspended - 1 week)

Unavailable: Shaun Ontong (Achilles - indefinite), Michael Bridges (hamstring 1-2 weeks), Marko Jesic (knee - indefinite)

Possible Starting XI: (3-4-3) Young, Costanzo, Milicevic, Topor-Stanley, Song, Wheelhouse, Thompson, Elrich, Haliti, Rooney, Petrovski

North Queensland Fury

In: Jack Hingert (promoted)

Out: Rostyn Griffiths (suspended - 1 week)

Unavailable: Shane Stefanutto (knee - indefinite), Scott Wilson (knee - indefinite), James Robinson (knee- indefinite), Ufuk Talay (calf - 4/6 weeks)

Possible Starting XI: (4-4-2) Pasfield, Middleby, Tambouras, Kohler, Tadrosse, Williams, Smith, Spagnuolo, Brockie, McBreen, Fowler

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sean Rooney (Newcastle Jets)

Powerful young striker who is beginning to find his feet in the A-League, has been one of the reasons the Jets have been able to turn around their season. A mobile forward who is technically adept as well as being strong on the ball and an astute finisher.

Robbie Fowler (North Queensland Fury)

This one’s a no-brainer: when Fowler scores, the Fury usually win. Their over-reliance on the Liverpool legend has made them a rather one-dimensional side, though how can that over-reliance be avoided when he remains one of the competition’s best players. Can win matches on his own.

WHAT THEY SAID

"It didn't really matter what people thought about us when we were going through a difficult period… But for us it's probably better if they don't respect us,” - Newcastle manager Branko Culina on how his side motivated themselves when they were struggling not so long ago.

“I’m going to have to changes things structurally and tactically -I’ve no choice,” - Fury boss Ian Ferguson on the difficulties of dealing with an injury and suspension-riddled side.

PREDICTION

Newcastle are in-form and starting to look like a side capable of challenging for the A-League title. They’ll have too much firepower for a depleted Fury.

Newcastle Jets 3-0 North Queensland Fury

Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com