Melbourne City returns to AAMI Park on Friday evening full of confidence, with our Ninja A-League squad riding a four-game winning streak that has propelled us to the top of the table.
It marks an important home match before a challenging run of three consecutive away fixtures, with Newcastle Jets the next opponent to roll into town as part of a blockbuster doubleheader at AAMI Park.
Here’s what to look out for when we take on the Jets!
Let the streak roll on
Our response since tasting league defeat for the first time in 651 days has been emphatic, and we’ve shown no signs of slowing down since that loss.
Four matches have followed, and four wins have been delivered, with strong results over Melbourne Victory, Perth Glory, Sydney FC and most recently Wellington Phoenix, reinforcing the consistency and quality within our group.
Last weekend’s trip across the ditch provided another strong test, but we were in control for large periods after early goals from Leticia McKenna and Aideen Keane put us firmly in the driver’s seat.
While a late Wellington header added some tension in the closing stages, we showed composure and maturity to see out the contest and return to Melbourne with all three points.
That result not only extended our winning run, but also underlined our ability to manage different game states, an increasingly important trait as the season builds. Now, with momentum firmly behind us, we’ll be aiming to make it five wins on the bounce, which would match our longest streak from last season and further entrench our position at the top end of the ladder.
A forced change to come
A defining feature of this winning run has been the consistency of our selection, with Head Coach Michael Matricciani naming an unchanged starting XI across the past four fixtures. Since Chinaza Uchendu’s introduction to the lineup, continuity has been a key pillar of our success.
This has been even more evident in defence, with the same back four and goalkeeper having featured in every Ninja A-League match so far this season, building a strong understanding and cohesion across the pitch.
That consistency will be tested this weekend, however, with Leah Davidson ruled out after suffering a knee injury.
Davidson’s absence presents an interesting challenge for the coaching staff, with no direct like-for-like replacement available. A reshuffle now looms, with Bryleeh Henry, Karly Roestbakken and Deven Jackson all pushing their cases for inclusion.
Whether that results in a positional adjustment or a tactical tweak remains to be seen, but it will be intriguing to see how we adapt while maintaining the balance that has underpinned our recent success.
Consolidating top spot
Despite still holding games in hand on several teams across the league due to our AFC Women’s Champions League commitments, last weekend’s win saw us surge to the summit of the Ninja A-League table.
With matches now coming thick and fast, the focus shifts to consolidating that position and continuing to build separation from the chasing pack.
Newcastle Jets arrive in Melbourne eager to build on a last-gasp win midweek against Sydney FC, with Charlotte Lancaster scoring in stoppage time to seal a dramatic come-from-behind win.
Historically, though, this has been a fixture we’ve controlled, with City unbeaten in 19 previous meetings against the Jets, recording 18 wins and a single draw.
That record won’t count for much once the whistle blows, but it does reflect the standards we’ve consistently set in this matchup. With confidence high, depth across the squad, and a home crowd behind us, we’ll be determined to deliver another strong performance and head into a demanding travel period with momentum firmly intact.
Fixture Details
Ninja A-League: Round 13
Melbourne City FC v Newcastle Jets
Friday 16 January, 4:50pm
AAMI Park
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