Western United will continue their quest for the Premiers Plate this Wednesday night when they travel to McDonald Jones Stadium to face Newcastle Jets.
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium (Newcastle)
Key Statistics
Newcastle Jets have scored 44 goals in the league this season. Only two teams have scored more goals than them.
The hosts have conceded 44 goals. Only three teams have conceded more goals than them.
They have lost their last two home games.
Western United have won one of their last four away games (one draw and two losses).
They have conceded 27 goals in the league this season. Only Melbourne Victory (24) have conceded fewer goals.
Head to head
In seven meetings between both sides, Western United have four wins against Newcastle who themselves have two wins against Western United.
Latest performances in all competitions
Newcastle Jets: W-L-L-L-W
Western United: L-W-W-L-D
Newcastle Jets
Newcastle Jets will look to make it two wins in two games for the first time since March when they welcome Western United to McDonald Jones Stadium.
The hosts beat Macarthur FC last time out to take their points tally for the season to 28 points. With 28 points on the board, they are currently sitting in ninth place, a distant eight points behind sixth-placed Wellington Phoenix.
And so, with two games still to play, they do not have the chance of booking a place in the top six places. The highest they can now finish this season is in seventh place if they win this game and the other teams ahead of them fail to win their games.
They can also end the season as low as eleventh should they lose this game and the next and the teams below them win theirs. Given the permutations and possibilities involved, they will look to get a decent result in this game in a bid to finish as high up the table as possible.
Possible Newcastle Jets starting line-up
Michael Weier; Jason Hoffman, Matthew Jurman, Jordan Elsey, Dylan Murnane; Jordan O’Doherty; Daniel Penha, Angus Thurgate, Samuel Silvera, Olivier Boumal; Beka Mikeltadze.
Injured: Archie Goodwin, Ben Katarovski
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Western United
Unlike their hosts, Western United have something huge at stake in this game.
The visitors are one of the three teams who still have a chance to win the Premier’s Plate this season. They are currently sitting in third place, two points behind first-placed Melbourne City.
Their last outing was a disappointing 1-0 loss to Central Coast Mariners, a result that put their chances of winning the Plate in jeopardy.
Aside from the possibility of winning the Premiers Plate, John Aloisi’s side are still in contention for a top-two finish. If they win this game, they will climb above the second-placed Melbourne Victory who have played a game more.
And with just two games to play, the possibilities are high. All they need to do is to win those two games and hope that the other teams drop points.
Possible Western United starting line-up
Jamie Young; Ben Garuccio, Leo Lacroix, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Jerry Skotadis; Rene Krhin; Connor Pain, Dylan Pierias, Lachlan Wales; Steven Lustica, Aleksandar Prijovic.
Injured: Sebastian Pasquali, Neil Kilkenny, Alessandro Diamanti, Joshua Risdon.
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Newcastle Jets 1-2 Western United
