Preston Lions vs Newcastle Jets Verdict
Defending champions Newcastle Jets have been handed a banana skin tie with a trip to NPL Victoria side Preston Lions. The hosts haven't played at the Round of 32 stage before and can rise to the challenge by scoring in a close game.
- Newcastle Jets have conceded at least 1 goal in 8 of their last 9 games
- Newcastle Jets conceded 39 goals during the regular A-League season - the most of any top six side despite finishing first
- Newcastle Jets have seen BTTS land in 13 of their last 16 games
- Preston have seen BTTS land in 2 of their last 3 games
Head To Head
This will be the first ever meeting between the clubs.
Preston Lions Form
Preston are enjoying a solid season in NPL Victoria, currently sitting in fourth spot on the ladder and coming into this clash having won five of their last six games
Zoran Markovski's side beat St Albans, Heidelberg, George Cross, Avondale and Hume City before playing out a 0-0 stalemate with South Melbourne this past weekend.
Competing in the Australia Cup Round of 32 for the very first time, Preston thumped George Cross 6-0 in the final round of qualifying to make it to this stage.
Newcastle Jets Form
It was a magnificent season for the Jets, with the club winning the Australia Cup before going on to finish top during the A-League regular campaign.
That result secured Newcastle a spot in the lucrative Asian Champions League Elite competition for next season, but the Jets couldn't complete a domestic treble, going down on penalties to Sydney FC in the semi-finals.
The Jets played an exciting brand of up-tempo attacking football during Milligan's debut season in charge, scoring 55 goals in 26 games during the regular term.