Ernie Merrick urges Newcastle Jets to maintain standard

Newcastle found their goalscoring touch against the Wanderers and coach Ernie Merrick wants more of the same.

Newcastle striker Roy O'Donovan, right, celebrates a goal against Western Sydney Wanderers. Picture: Getty Images

He was happy to see the Newcastle Jets of old, but coach Ernie Merrick says the 5-1 thumping of Western Sydney Wanderers last Friday will count for nothing if his players don’t maintain the standard in the coming weeks.

The Jets rediscovered their attacking mojo with a wonderful display which, coupled with Wellington Phoenix’s loss to Perth Glory on Saturday night, has fired up Newcastle’s hopes of making a late charge for finals football.

The gap between the two sides is now down to eight points and could be reduced even further when the Jets play the Kiwis at McDonald Jones Stadium on Thursday night. But there is potential for an even bigger turnaround in the ensuing couple of weeks as both sides face possibly season-defining games.

Sixth-placed Wellington (26 points) face a daunting task after Thursday night with games against competition powerhouses Melbourne Victory (second in the table) and Sydney FC (third).

Newcastle follow with games against fifth-placed Melbourne City then fourth-placed Adelaide United, as some suggest the Jets have not given up hope of finishing higher than sixth. But never one to get ahead of himself, Merrick is simply demanding his players continue to make progress now that they have rediscovered their self-belief in attack.

“It (the Wanderers game) was very good to see, the players showed a lot more belief in their ability. They got forward, they showed they can score goals like last season,” Merrick said yesterday. “It’s amazing when you score five goals like that; it brings back the belief in your ability.

“Then what happens, you play the ball in behind, you get bodies in the box, you finish it off and you score five goals and that’s the old side I remember from last season.

“We have threatened to do that many times this season and we have finally done it and we have to kick on in the next couple of games, otherwise it means ­nothing. It is interesting because the three sides we are competing with for a spot in the six are the next three games and these are teams we need to do well against. I hate that one in a row stuff, we need to get two and three (wins in a row) … and that is next.

“This is an ideal situation for us.”

Importantly for the Jets, all three games will be at home in front of one of the most parochial crowds in the A-League.

“Of our last six games, we have had just one at home. We now have three in a row and that is perfect for us leading into the Asian Champions League,” Merrick said.

Meanwhile, Merrick said there were concerns over the fitness of key attacker Dimi Petratos for Thursday’s match. The 26-year-old picked up a back issue in the game against the Wanderers.

“He didn’t train today because he is feeling some tightness. He is in some doubt and we will tread carefully with him. He will have some physio and some tender loving care … we will make sure we spoil him,” Merrick said.

Petratos is the key to Newcastle’s finals hopes and the Jets boss was quick to defend against suggestions he has not been at his best. “I have heard that said a few times about his lack of confidence, but I have all his stats for this season … the number of shots, shots on target, assists, shots just off target … and they are better than they were last season,” Merrick said.

“The only downside is when he puts the ball into the box, it is not finished off or when he shoots it is either saved or it hits crossbar or post or goes just wide.”