Melbourne Heart FC will not alter its preparation for tomorrow night’s clash with the Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium, Head Coach John Aloisi has promised, despite the Club’s ominous track record at the venue.
Melbourne Heart FC will not alter its preparation for tomorrow night-s clash with the Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium, Head Coach John Aloisi has promised, despite the Club-s ominous track record at the venue.
Heart is yet to record a win in Newcastle in three outings at the Hunter, and despite the team-s formidable record at AAMI Park this season, which is fast becoming a Red and White fortress, Aloisi-s charges are yet to record a win outside of Melbourne in the 2012-13 campaign.
However, with Heart sitting fifth and leading the pack for a top-six berth, Aloisi believes his side is heading in the right direction with seven matches remaining.
After four consecutive wins at home, Aloisi sees tomorrow night’s clash as the perfect opportunity to set the team’s away form straight against a potential top-six rival and translate the team-s excellent home form into a positive result.
Heart can draw inspiration from its most recent win over the Jets at AAMI Park this season and remains unbeaten in the last two encounters against Gary Van Egmond-s side, and while the Hunter poses a different backdrop, Aloisi has not swayed from his normal preparation.
“We prepare the same way as we do at home because our home from has been great, and it shouldn-t be any different away,” Aloisi said.
“We-re not trying to play a different style of football- we-re not defending any deeper when we-re playing away from home.
“And if we do that we will pick up points away from home. We just have to be more consistent.
“I just told [the players] how important it is for us to start picking up points away from home.”
Heart-s playing stocks have been bolstered this week with the return of the Club-s skipper Fred, experienced defender Simon Colosimo and the freshly signed Marcel Meeuwis, leaving Aloisi with a good selection headache.
With Meeuwis likely to receive international clearance, Aloisi will have a strong squad to utilise against the Jets.
“Marcel – I think his clearance has come through so he will play some part in the game,” Aloisi said.
“ He only got off the plane about three days ago so; fitness-wise he-s good, maybe a little bit jet-lagged but he-s in good condition so he-ll play some part in the game.”
