Brisbane Roar vs Newcastle Jets

Heskey: Jets to pile more pressure on Roar

Both sides are struggling but a trip to bottom-of-the-table Brisbane Roar is one my former team Newcastle Jets will believe they can win.

However, while Brisbane are yet to register a win this season, this is also a big opportunity for them against a side who have lost 7 of their 10 games and sit only two places above them.

Brisbane have one of the worst defences in the league, so their main focus should be on keeping it tight at the back and hoping the likes of Thomas Waddingham and Keegan Jelacic up front can make the most of chances that come their way.

The pressure is on Brisbane manager Ruben Zadkovich and he will hope that their captain Jay O'Shea, who can score goals and create chances, can inspire the team from midfield.

Newcastle threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Sydney FC last time out as what would have been a fantastic result turned into a disappointing one.

On the plus side, striker Ben Gibson has impressed me of late and the 21-year-old was brilliant to watch as he scored against Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix last month. He’ll be Newcastle’s biggest threat in attack.

Eli Adams and Thomas Aquilina are also in decent form going forward as Newcastle have scored seven goals in the past three games, so I see their frontline getting plenty of chances the against a shaky Brisbane defence.

A win for either side would provide a much-needed boost, but I feel it’s Newcastle who will come out on top.

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