Taylor Regan is confident he and Josh Mitchell can limit the influence of Melbourne Victory’s attacking threats on Friday.
Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets defender Taylor Regan is confident he and centre-back partner Josh Mitchell can limit the influence of Melbourne Victory-s attacking threats at Hunter Stadium on Friday night.
The Jets will be without former Dutch international Kew Jaliens, meaning Mitchell is likely to play alongside Regan in the heart of the Jets- defence.
“Josh Mitchell is an experienced professional who-s been around the traps and he knows how we play,” Regan said.
“Josh and I have played together twice this year, once successful and once unsuccessful, but it-s a partnership where we both have trust in each other and we know each other-s game.
“As long as the whole team is on I think we can get three points.”
With Socceroos striker Archie Thompson set to return for the Victory, Regan was under no illusions as to the challenge facing the Jets- backline on Friday.
“Archie is a massive threat, but I don-t think we can single him out,” Regan said.
“There-s Mitch Nichols, James Troisi, Kosta Barbarouses and Gui Finkler as well, so they have weapons all over the park.
“No doubt we-ll have our work cut out for us, but it-s our first Friday night home game in front of our Members and supporters and we-re hoping for a big turnout to help get us over the line.”
Regan said the Jets would draw on the positives from their 2-1 win over the Victory at AAMI Park earlier in the season.
“We went down there with a game plan and we stuck to it,”
“We-ve got another game plan this time, which has changed a little bit from last time, so hopefully we can come out all guns blazing in front of our home crowd and do it with their support.
“We had a good backing down there last time with a lot of away supporters, but if we can get it done if front of our fans at home, it will be massive.”
The Jets can move into third place on the ladder with a win on Friday, while a loss could see them drop out of the top six altogether.
“It-s a very tight race for those semi-final positions at the moment, it-s so close, but we-re only two points from third,” Regan said.
“It-s definitely not do or die, but it-s one we definitely don-t want to lose.
“We consider ourselves to be a good team, and a good team doesn-t lose three in a row, so we-ll be going out there to get three points on Friday.”
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory
Friday, January 10
Hunter Stadium
Kick-off 7.30pm
Tickets available from PROticket.
