Newcastle Jets’ centre-back Adrian Madaschi believes that his side is only one win away from the confidence boost needed to gather momentum heading into the busy December part of the Hyundai A-League schedule.
Despite failing to register a win to this point in the season, Madaschi believes there are only a few “little things” holding his side back at the moment.
“The performance has been there, the effort has been there,” said Madaschi.
“There’s just that little bit of something that’s lacking. At the weekend, if we had of put away the chances we created, maybe the game dies off earlier and you’re able to hold that lead a bit better.
“We’re still coming together in terms of a whole group, still got players, like myself, who are not at 100% match condition. As those players up their conditioning levels, I think as a group we’ll be able to manage the game better, conserve energy better.”
A win this weekend could take Newcastle inside the top 6, creating a platform for which Madaschi believes the Jets can then build from.
“Sometimes it’s luck, sometimes luck is what you make,” said Madaschi.
“Ultimately, once we do get those first three points on the board in terms of a win, that will a give a bigger amount of confidence to say, well we can hold on to this.
“It doesn’t matter how we get it, as long as we get that (win) it will give us that confidence to go ahead and say well this is what it feels like, get that feeling, and I guess that can sort of spur you on as well.”
To do this though, the Jets will have to overcome a high-flying Wellington Pheonix who are only days removed from a 5-1 romping of Melbourne City FC.
“This year they have strengthened themselves, one of the difficulties they’ve always had is travelling and playing away from home, but this year they’ve taken some results playing away, so we’re going to have to be very cautious,” Madaschi said.
“They’ve got a very good front third, a very mobile midfield, they like to play on the counter attack and defend as a whole group, so we’re going to have to study that very well during the week and see where we can find some space.”
In saying this, the centre-back is still confident they can take all three points, saying he would like to sing the Newcastle Jets team song this weekend.
“We haven’t had the opportunity to sing that…I can only hope that it will be very loud, I don’t think there will be the necessity for a loudspeaker or anything like that.
“Hopefully we can bring it on and get these three points”
Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix
Saturday, December 6
Hunter Stadium
Kick-off 5pm
Tickets available from Ticketmaster.
