Newcastle Jets coach Arthur Papas says his side paid the price for not taking their chances in the first half before losing 3-0 to Melbourne City.
The Jets are priced at 6/4 to finish in the top six of the A-League and will feel they should have taken something from Friday night's encounter when they dominated for large spells.
Missed chances
The Jets were on top in the first half but somehow found themselves 1-0 down at the break when City striker Jamie Maclaren fired home a fine volley in the second minute of stoppage time.
The game then turned in the second half when poor defending from the Jets allowed Mathew Leckie to make it 2-0 and moments later Papas' side were down to 10 men.
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Taylor Regan was sent off after picking up his second yellow card of the night and from there on in the reigning premiers took control of the game.
Carl Jenkinson grabbed the third in the 64th minute and Papas was left to rue some poor finishing and sloppy defending from his side.
Game changers
"First half, probably our best half since we returned from the break," Papas told reporters after the game. "Our football was very good up until the last third.
"Then you concede on halftime, probably against the run of play, should defend better in the box.
"Then the game changes in two moments in the second half (with Leckie's goal and the red card).
"Ten men, when you're playing Melbourne City, doesn't matter what the circumstances are, they're obviously going to put us to the sword."
