Clayton Zane believes the Jets need a disciplined performance against Adelaide to keep their finals hopes alive.
Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets interim head coach Clayton Zane believes the Jets need a disciplined performance against Adelaide United at Hunter Stadium on Friday to secure three points and keep their Finals Series hopes alive.
While Newcatsle will likely need to win by multiple goals to have a chance of leapfrogging Sydney FC into the Hyundai A-League-s top six, Zane said the Jets would not approaching the match with a reckless all-out attack mentality.
“Obviously we-re very reliant on other results going our way, but the boys know what they need to do and that is first and foremost picking up three points,” Zane said.
“We-ll go into the match with a similar mentality to what we had last time against Melbourne Victory.
“I don-t think we can just throw caution to the wind from the first minute.
“We need to be disciplined with the performance, because there-s no point going out there and throwing everything you-ve got in attack at the opposition and conceding two or three goals on the break, it-s not going to work that way.
“It needs to be a game where first and foremost we come out on top and get the victory and then obviously we need to look at the tide of the match and see if we need to be a bit more adventurous in the latter stages.
“Our instructions to the players this week is to concentrate on getting the victory first and foremost because if we don-t do that, everything else is irrelevant.”
Should the Jets defeat the Reds on Friday, they would require Perth Glory to defeat Sydney FC on Sunday and for the results of both matches to account for a four-goal swing in goal difference.
Zane said Adelaide-s attacking approach could lead to an open match and fall in the Jets- favour as the push forward in search of goals.
“I think they-re a team similar to Brisbane in that they like to attack through their wingers, but I think one of our biggest strengths is having people in wide areas that can deal with players with pace and,” Zane said.
“With Josh Brillante and Sam Gallaway we-re very good at our one-on-one duels in the wide areas.
“It-s going to be an open game because they try and make the field as big as possible and they try and play very good football, but they do leave themselves to be counter-attacked as well, which suits our game plan.
“I think for the neutral it will be a very good game to watch. “
Zane said he hoped to reward Newcastle-s loyal Members with a victory in the Jets- final home game of the season.
“The only way we can end the season with a smile is to go out and put a good performance in,” Zane said.
“I thought our Members were terrific last week against Melbourne Victory and they-ve been terrific since I-ve came into this position.
“Hopefully they get behind us and rally behind the troops to give us that extra man for the game against Adelaide.”
Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United
Friday, April 11
Hunter Stadium
Kick-off 7.30pm
Tickets available from PROticket.
