Newcastle Jets coach Mark Jones cast a defeated figure after his side slumped down into bottom spot and says he’s desperate to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Jets’ 2-0 loss to Central Coast on Sunday night left Jones’ side winless in nine games and last on the table with one round to go.
A Newcastle win on Sunday would’ve ensured they’d avoid the spoon but now they are minus two goal difference behind ninth-placed Adelaide United and a point behind eighth-placed Central Coast.
To make matters worse for Jones, his side face a tough trip away to premiers Sydney FC in Round 27.
“You don’t want to come bottom of the table, that’s what today was all about,” said Jones, who was visibly frustrated and short with journalists post-game.
“We’ve gone from where we were in the sixth to bottom of the table which is clearly not good enough.
“There’s only one plan, you have to go to Sydney and try to get at least a point.”
On top of Newcastle’s nine-game winless run, the Jets have lost their past five games and have failed to score in their past four.
It’s a shocking run of form which has Jones scratching his head and brought him under pressure.
“It is what it is,” he said. “We’ve gone from the 21nd round being 1-0 up (against Central Coast) and in the six to where we are.
“It’s not good enough. We’ve fallen away badly.”
FULL TIME: It's game over in Gosford. #F3Derby #ALeague pic.twitter.com/ayCbcwJdb4
— NEWCASTLE JETS FC ✈️ (@NewcastleJetsFC) April 9, 2017
He added: “Again We had lots of opportunities and if you don’t take them, that’s what happens.”
“It’s composure at key moments in the game. We get into good areas and you’ve got to be composed enough to execute.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Hoole was dropped to the bench for the Mariners game after last week's incident, making an impact as a 54th minute substitute.
Hoole is out of contract at Newcastle and is expected to try to win a deal in Europe in the off-season.
“We try to play the best XI each week,” Jones said when asked why Hoole had been relegated from the starting XI.
“I thought that was the best XI. He’s come on and made an impact which was good.”
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