Coach says notching a win over the defending Champions will give the Jets a small confidence boost coming into the season.
Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets head coach Gary van Egmond says he was satisfied with the Jets- performance in their 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar in Saturday night-s trial match in Tamworth.
The Jets prevailed in an evenly fought contest courtesy of a Ryan Griffiths goal in the first half and van Egmond said he was pleased with what he saw from the Jets players.
“I think both teams showed good glimpses, especially in that first 60 minutes when both teams probably had their stronger line-ups out on the park,” van Egmond said.
“There were periods of the game where either team controlled the match and created opportunities and I think it was fairly apt in the end that the game was decided on a set piece.
“In the end I think it was a pretty even contest and I-m pretty sure both teams will go away reasonably satisfied.”
Albeit only a trial match, van Egmond said notching a win over the defending Champions would give the Jets added confidence coming into the season.
“We came into the game still looking to work on our performance and the better our performances are getting, the better the results we achieving are as well,” he said.
“We-ve just got to keep working on that. We know there-s still quite a bit of work to do on an individual basis and as a collective group, but it-s very pleasing to see the boys implementing what we-ve been working on with the knowledge that they can get better.”
Griffiths- goal came as a result of a Jobe Wheelhouse corner in what appeared to be a set move. Wheelhouse-s ball to the near post was flicked on by Marko Jesic allowing Griffiths to knock it in from close range.
Van Egmond said perfecting those aspects of the game would hold the Jets in good stead for the coming season.
“We haven-t really worked a great deal on set pieces, but we did a little bit the other day and it-s about making sure people adhere to what needs to be done at the corner,” he said.
“That attention to detail, not only on set pieces, but with everything we do is going to be the difference between us doing well and not doing so well.”
The Jets matched the Roar in terms of energy and liveliness throughout Saturday-s contest.
Van Egmond said recruiting players who were capable of playing a brand of football that required high fitness levels was one of his priorities during the off-season.
“We-ve worked quite hard on our fitness this year. The most important part though is to have people who are capable of attaining certain fitness levels,” he explained.
“It-s no good trying to get someone to a fitness level who perhaps doesn-t genetically have that in him because you-re basically flogging a dead horse and that-s been part of the criteria with our recruiting.”
