NEWCASTLE Jets' goal-scoring woes continued as they were held to a scoreless draw by Western United despite dominating in scorching conditions at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With hired gun Roy O'Donovan sitting in the stands and Wes Hoolahan given an extra week to train in his return from long-term injury, the Jets missed chance after chance.
They crafted 12 shots to nil in the first half and had launched 25 by full-time.
Western keeper Filip Kurto was man of the match, making a series of saves, including a couple when one-on-one. He continually put his body on the line, highlighted by his effort in injury time, rushing off his line before diving to the ground to deny Dimi Petratos.
But the Jets also missed a couple of sitters. None easier than a volley from a metre by the normal lethal Dimi Petratos which shanked wide.
At the other end, Lewis Italiano didn't make a save until the 54th minute as the visitors manufactured just the three attempts on goal.
"Everyone is trying so hard to be the person who scores, we almost get in each other's way," caretaker coach Craig Deans said. "
"The desperation and everything is there. It is just that little bit of composure and quality at the key moments.
"Again I can't fault the effort or the endeavour of the players. In there (dressing room) it feels like we lost to be honest. Everyone is disappointed. The one big positive was the clean sheet."
It was the second straight week the Jets have played the opposition off the park for little reward after going down 2-1 to Wellington.
At least this time they picked up a point and ended a four-game losing streak.
They moved to 10 points, 10 adrift of sixth-placed Western, who have played an extra game.
Western United coach Mark Rudan admitted his side had been out-played but was proud of the way they hung tough.
With the temperature reaching a searing 41 degrees in Newcastle, match commission Peter Dimovski consulted with club doctors from both clubs before allowing the match to kick-off on time at 5pm.
The wet bulb temperature was at 28 degrees 40 minutes before kick-off, which was right on the limit but was expected to drop to 26.5 degrees as the wind picked up.
Though accepting of the protocols, Rudan thought the conditions impacted greatly on the quality or the game.
"For me the two most important components in our game are the fans and the players," he said. "The fans want to see a spectacle, they want to see an entertaining game, a quick paced game as well. I thought they were let down.
"I thought it was an incredible effort from both set of players that they were able to withstand that heat and humidity. I take my hat off to both sets of players."
The Jets signed Roy O'Donovan on an 18-month contract late Friday night before the transfer window closed. But neither he or fellow new addition Connor O'Toole featured on the teamsheet as Craig Deans retained the same XI which went down 2-1 to Wellington. Wes Hoolahan was also not risked.
Western United were without Italian marquee Alessandro Diamanti (ankle), leaving Besart Berisha to lead the attack.
The opening 45 minutes was symptomatic of the Jets season.They had the majority of play, had 12 shots to zero, won the corner corner count 6-2 and delivered 18 crosses into the box.
The Jets survived a couple of anxious early moments in defence. Matt Millar made a crucial interception as Max Burgess was about to pull the trigger in the fifth minute and two minutes later Besart Berisha got the ball stuck in his feet Lewis Italiano stranded.
Petratos had the home side's first chance when released on the counter attack. He drove into the box but couldn't beat Kurto at the near post.
Abdiel Arroyo flashed a header above the bar from a Bobby Burns cross just before the first drinks break in the 17th minute.
The Jets continued to mount pressure on the visitors in the period before the second drinks break but couldn't deliver a killer blow.
They had strong claims for a penalty after Andrew Durante appeared to trip Nikolai Topor-Stanley in the box from a corner but referee Jonathan Barriero waved play on.
The second half continued in the same vein.
Petratos, normally lethal in front of goals, shanked a volley from a metre at the far post in the 48th minute.