Western Sydney Wanderers boss Carl Robinson has proclaimed that he built Newcastle Jets into the team that they have become, following the recent 2-1 victory at the Newcastle International Sports Centre.
The former Vancouver Whitecaps manager was brought in as a replacement for Ernie Merrick last February, and signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the Hunter outfit. At the time, the club were in a miserable position after winning only two games in the league at that point of the season.
The introduction of the Welshman in the dugout saw a marked difference in both performances and results, as Newcastle went on to win seven and draw three in his 11 matches at the helm. Yet after a comparatively strong finish to the season, reports concerning unpaid debt and absentee owner Martin Lee coupled with an uncertain future seemed to cast a shadow over the club.
Robinson ended up putting pen to paper and taking charge of the Wanderers during the season break, and was met with a hostile reception from the home fans when his side visited Newcastle recently. But it was his side who had the last laugh as they ran out 2-1 winners on that occasion, as Ziggy Gordon and Tate Russell got their names on the scoresheet.
The Jets fought back bravely as a header from skipper Nigel Boogaard cut the lead in half with less than 20 minutes to go. But the visitors managed to hold onto their slender lead through stoic defending at the back, and eventually take all three points.
“I built this team, Newcastle – I know the way they wanted to play so I tried to counteract that,” Robinson told FOX Sports after his first victory as the Wanderders’ boss.
“We played a diamond in midfield, we tried to outnumber them which we did and we took control of the game when we wanted to.
“It was actually a bit weird trying to beat the team I actually made.”
Western Sydney Wanderers will lock horns with Sydney FC in a blockbuster derby at Stadium Australia on Saturday.
