Newcastle Jets will travel to the capital this Sunday to face Western Sydney Wanderers in the second round of games in the 2021/22 A-League season.
Venue: CommBank Stadium (Sydney)
Key Statistics
Western Sydney Wanderers are unbeaten in their last four games (W2, D2).
They have kept three clean sheets in their last four games.
The hosts have lost one of their last five home games (W3, D1).
Newcastle Jets have won just two of their last nine away games (D1, L7).
They have lost their last two consecutive matches by an aggregate score of 4-1.
The visitors have kept just one clean sheet in their last 19 games.
Head to head (H2H)
In the last ten head-to-head meetings between both sides, WS Wanderers have just one win while Newcastle Jets have won five times (D4).
Latest Performances in all competitions
WS Wanderers: D-W-D-W-L
Newcastle Jets: L-L-W-D-W
Western Sydney Wanderers
After missing out on a place in the playoffs place last season by virtue of an eight-place finish in the A-League, WS Wanderers return to the league looking to secure a top-six finish this campaign.
Kenny Miller’ side began their season with a goalless draw in the derby at home last weekend against Sydney FC. The result extended their unbeaten run to four games and was the third time they were keeping a clean sheet in their last four games.
Captained by former Middlesbrough defender Rhys Williams, and with the addition of former England international Jack Rodwell, the hosts will be looking for a steady campaign.
Although they have a poor record against Newcastle Jets, they have not lost in this fixture in their last three meetings.
Possible Western Sydney Wanderers starting line-ups
Mejias Osorio; Thomas Aquilina, Johnny Koutroumbis, Rhys Williams, Adama Traore; Ibini-Isei, Terry Antonis, Steven Ugarkovic, Jack Rodwell, Dimitrios Petratos, Tomer Hemed.
Newcastle Jets
Newcastle Jets finished 11th last season, just two points ahead of bottom-place Melbourne Victory, thanks to two wins and a draw from their last three games.
But this season they have again begun poorly, losing their opening two competitive games so far. The first of the losses was to Western United in the FFA Cup playoffs, while they were also beaten 2-1 last Sunday by Central Coast Mariners in their first league game.
Two of those losses saw them concede two times, scoring one in each. The Jets conceded a whopping 60 times in the league last season, making them by far the side with the worst defensive record in the top flight last campaign.
They will have to avoid such a terrible defensive record if they want to avoid another embarrassing season.
Under experienced coach Arthur Papas, the visitors will be confident of improved results and will fancy their chances of taking home a win in this game.
Possible Newcastle Jets starting line-ups
Jack Duncan, Jordan Elsey, Dane Ingham, Matthew Jurman, Dylan Murnane; Angus Thurgate, Kosta Grozos; Savaas Siatravanis, dos Santos, Olivier Boumal, Beka Mikeltadze.
Injured: Jason Hoffman
Doubt: Mario Arques
Prediction
WS Wanderers 1-0 Newcastle Jets
