ROOKIE coach Scott Miller was always confident his unheralded Jets squad would deliver – even if they had to do it the hard way.
Newcastle held on for a 2-1 victory over Wellington Phoenix after being reduced to 10 men in a tense season opener at Westpac Stadium on Sunday.
Reborn winger David Carney and returning keeper Mark Birighitti were the heroes.
Carney scored a goal and set one up for new striker Milos Trifunovic, who was cleared to play only on Thursday.
Birighitti made a fine save to deny Roy Krishna from the penalty spot early in the second half when the score was 1-all, and made two more top-shelf stops as Newcastle clung to their lead after captain Nigel Boogaard was sent off in the 77th minute.
It was a triumphant start for Miller in the A-League.
Recommended by Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, the 34-year-old former Fulham assistant is the youngest coach in the A-League.
Postecoglou and England manager Roy Hodgson, a former boss at Fulham, were among a number of high-profile well-wishers to contact Miller in the lead-up to the game.
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They would no doubt have taken satisfaction from his first-up win – as would the club’s potential new owner, Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson, who watched the match on television.
Miller’s predecessor, Phil Stubbins, did not win his first game until round 11 last season and finished a disastrous campaign with just three victories and the wooden spoon.
‘‘I knew they could deliver, and they did it,’’ a delighted Miller said.
‘‘We have come to Wellington, probably the most challenging place in regards to travel. We have dealt with it, and we have won. Irrespective of last year, that is a big step for any club coming over here.
‘‘Wellington are a solid team. They play nice football and are very dangerous in the final third.
‘‘To break them down and actually come out with the result, considering the circumstances, I thought it was magnificent.
‘‘It underpins what we have been working on: organisation, commitment, passion and never giving up.’’
The Jets played the final 13 minutes a man down after skipper Boogaard was given a red card for a second bookable offence when he held back Krishna.
Boogaard received his first in the 52nd minute after Cameron Watson had fouled Phoenix fullback Louis Fenton.
The official match report indicated that both his cards were for holding.
‘‘I was slightly frustrated with a few of the decisions overall,’’ Miller said.
‘‘Nigel’s is one of those.
‘‘But it was his second yellow, and Nigel knows better.’’
The send-off did little to detract overly from the coach’s satisfaction.
‘‘We had a dance in the shed and sang, ‘This is how we do it,’’’ Miller said. ‘‘JP and I led that one. We got laughed out of the room.
‘‘That is what we are about.
‘‘We are here to enjoy life as well as our football.’’
Left back Lee Ki-je, Enver Alivodic and Daniel Mullen were the only survivors from the final game last season to start against the Phoenix.
After a nervous start, which included Cameron Watson clearing a Ben Sigmund header off the line, Lee help put the visitors ahead in 29th minute.
The nifty Korean produced some fancy footwork near the byline and whipped in a cross for Carney to glance into the net.
Phoenix dominated possession and hit back in first-half stoppage time when Roly Bonevacia made a late run into the box to meet a cutback from Michael McGlinchey.
His first-time shot deflected off the heel of Lee and snuck inside the right post.
In the end the visitors had Birighitti to thank for all three points.
Back from a loan stint in Italy, he dived to his right to deny Krishna from the penalty spot in the 47th minute, and then produced another diving effort in the 89th minute to parry away a Vince Lia drive.
‘‘Birighitti’s save was a turning point,’’ Miller said. ‘‘To save a penalty at any time gives you that confidence and momentum to move forward. I thought he was outstanding … with the whole performance, I thought to a man they were superb, even the substitutes.
‘‘The whole trip has been fantastic in terms of logistics. The entire staff deserve a rap. They have been outstanding all pre-season.’’
Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick was frustrated rather than disappointed.
‘‘We dominated possession, we passed the ball around well through the midfield and our defence were rock solid,’’ he said. ‘‘But it’s all about scoring goals.’’
source:theherald.com.au
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 