Newcastle Jets gun David Carney says that the club’s coaching staff has the squad organised and working as a unit early in Hyundai A-League season 11.
A bullet free kick from Carney in the 75th minute separated the Jets and Melbourne Victory at Hunter Stadium on Friday.
Winning the free kick himself, Carney received a square pass from Brazilian attacking midfielder Leonardo and drove it past a diving Danny Vukovic into the net.
Carney voiced his delight in the post-match press conference.
“We work on it a bit,” Carney said about the set-play.
“If you look back there was no one at the edge of the box so I moved over a little bit more just so Leo (Leonardo) could play me a bit further over.”
“No one really came out to me so I had a free shot.”
“It was great that it worked out.”
“Last year we weren’t organised.”
“We conceded over fifty goals which shows how unorganised we were but since the gaffer [Miller] has come in … we’ve worked really hard on our defensive structure and it’s proved over the last three games.”
“Full credit to the back four and the goalkeeper, and the midfield too, they were fantastic.”
“We’ll enjoy this for twenty-four hours but come Monday the gaffer and JP [Senior Assistant Coach Jean-Paul de Marigny] will have us back fighting and preparing for Melbourne City,” he said.
Miller agreed with Carney’s suggestion that the side would need to refocus come Monday morning, and praised Carney for his efforts, which he believes extend far beyond match day.
“I knew he’d always produce and he has been, not only in the first three games but also every day in training. He’s taken massive steps,” Miller explained.=
“It’s small successes for a club that’s in the rebuild. It’s very important that we actually recognise the achievement tonight and enjoy it. It’s not just a case of expecting it, it’s very much a case of believing it and building on it.”
“It’s not a Grand Final win, it’s a Round 3 win. We must move on and be focused come Monday for our following fixture.”
Miller also hailed goalkeeper Ben Kennedy who made his first start of the season after Mark Birighitti’s injury sustained against Sydney, acknowledging his “three or four key saves”.
“Our mentality is anyone who travels to Newcastle must find it difficult to play here,” Miller said.
