Adelaide United Women Head Coach, Huss Skenderovic, is confident his side can secure their first win of the season against Newcastle Jets Women in Round 9 of the Westfield W-League at Elite Systems Football Centre on Thursday night.
The Reds Women will be hoping to bring in the New Year with a win and consolidate for their results in recent weeks, with an opportunity to ascend off the bottom of the league standings and turn their season around.
In Round 7, Adelaide United Women were forced to tolerate the invasion of Perth Glory Women, which culminated in a heavy 4-1 defeat at Elite Systems Football Centre, while the 7th placed Newcastle Jets were also beaten on home turf, falling 2-1 to Western Sydney Wanderers Women.
With another game on the horizon for Adelaide on Monday night against Melbourne City away from home, Reds Women Boss, Skenderovic, emphasised the importance of attaining momentum against the Novocastrians, to begin to break the ice and build a solid foundation within the squad.
“We have Newcastle Jets Thursday night, and Melbourne City the following Monday in Melbourne, but we haven’t had much of a break, so we have continued on like normal and working on things we have identified in our game like our transition from defence,” Skenderovic said. “It has been difficult with Monica away, but she has been back training and we look forward to having her back.
“We do want to finish off the rest of the campaign strong, and we will keep developing on our football and game style.
“It will also give us a chance to really create the environment for the girls that aren’t used to the professionalism that we have established, and it will give them the opportunity in these next 4-5 weeks to develop and take that next step forward with the Club.
“There is definitely enough time to turn our season around, starting with a win against Newcastle, even though we probably won’t make the Finals, but it will be good to finish off the season stronger and give a positive light, and then establish the next phase of the Adelaide United Women.
Skenderovic believes his side have enough to power past the Newcastle outfit, and that a win on the board will enable Adelaide to take some flight this season.
“We want to get a win on the board, and I think at home this week against Newcastle Jets will be a prime opportunity to get the job done,” Skenderovic continued. “The spirit of the team is good as always, and we will be ready to go.
“We are confident ahead of the contest, as we always take confidence with us in our approach to games because we want to try and score as many goals as possible and it will be no different against Newcastle despite them being a physically strong side.
“I believe Newcastle aren’t as strong as the likes of Perth Glory, Melbourne City, Sydney FC and so forth, and if we can start off the game strong by scoring early, it will give us the salvation to finish off the game strongly and not chase it for 90 minutes, to get a win.”
