WESTERN United’s James Troisi insists his side can still play A-League Men finals after snatching an upset win on the road at Newcastle.<\/p>\n
A clinical first-half double from Noah Botic – scored from his team’s only two shots – and a header after the break from Tongo Doumbia allowed United to climb out of last place on the ladder.<\/p>\n
They had clung on for their lives in the first half, needing a string of saves from Jamie Young to keep them in front after Beka Mikeltadze gave the Jets a 33rd-minute lifeline from the spot.<\/p>\n
But they took over late and sealed their first win in five games, at the same time ending the Jets’ six-game unbeaten run and costing them an opportunity to jump into the top six.<\/p>\n
The win meant they ended Saturday 10th on the table, only five points off the top six, despite their recent poor run.<\/p>\n
“We want to make play-offs,” Troisi said. “If we’re not consistent, we won’t do that… that’s our aim, we got a good foundation today.<\/p>\n
“You see when we do the right things and create chances we can score goals and we’re a good side.<\/p>\n
“Everyone’s written us off and the only way we can turn it around is to put on performances like this.”<\/p>\n
Botic was perfectly positioned twice in the opening half-hour, ducking in to nod Josh Risdon’s cross home early before tapping home another peach from Connor Pain.<\/p>\n
Mikeltadze got the Jets on the board, easily tucking home his penalty after a Jacob Tratt handball gifted Newcastle a lifeline.<\/p>\n
But the hosts spurned a number of chances to equalise throughout the first half and just when it looked like they might grab one in the second, Doumbia put things to bed with a back-post header – his first goal for United.<\/p>\n
Newcastle looked particularly brittle at the back throughout and were almost caught out several times by careless passing, one back-pass missed by goalkeeper Jack Duncan rolling narrowly wide.<\/p>\n
The experienced Troisi praised Botic’s precision in front of goal.<\/p>\n
“He’s a good young talent, he works hard. In our team he’s going to get a lot of chances because we create a lot,” he said.<\/p>\n
“He probably could have had another one or two… we’ll keep feeding him and doing as much as we can so he can thrive.”<\/p>\n
Western United continue their push to shake of the 2022\/23 premiership hangover with a home game at Mars Stadium on Saturday, 4 March against Perth Glory with kick off at 5pm.<\/p>\n