Newcastle Jets defender Sam Gallagher believes the Jets can draw on a number of positives from the F3 Derby loss to Central Coast Mariners ahead of Sunday’s clash with Melbourne City.
Newcastle Jets defender Sam Gallagher believes the Jets can draw on a number of positives from the F3 Derby loss to Central Coast Mariners ahead of Sunday’s clash with Melbourne City.
Mitchell Duke’s stoppage time winner for the Mariners meant Newcastle left Gosford empty handed, but Gallagher believes there were a number encouraging signs for the Jets to take from the match.
“We took a lot of positives out of it because I thought we did really well throughout the game, but obviously losing at the death like that is tough,” Gallagher said.
“It was really disappointing how it ended considering how hard the boys worked for 90 minutes.
“As a playing group there were a lot of positives we could take from it. We’ve still got a lot to work on, but it’s good signs I think.
“As we come back into training this week, we’ve got all eyes looking forward to the game against Melbourne City and we’re going to work on what we need to and hopefully we can get a better result.”
Gallagher said he was delighted to have started another Hyundai A-League match after playing his last game in the competition for Melbourne Victory during the 2012/13 season.
“I thought I did OK,” Gallagher said of his Jets debut.
“I was quite nervous at the start, because the last time I started an A-League game I got sent off after 16 minutes.
“The boys helped me through it, so I’m grateful for my teammates and the coaching staff for putting their trust in me.
The 23-year-old former Olyroo admitted he hadn’t expected to break straight into the Jets’ starting XI for Round 1, but planned to make the most of the opportunity.
“I was hoping to – that’s been my goal for the past four or five years since I started in the A-League,” Gallagher said.
“I wasn’t really expecting to start because I was coming here to fight for a spot and I knew that from day one.
“I’m just really happy and really honoured that Phil put me in and put his trust in me in game one.”
