If there\u2019s a team that can tame A-League entertainers Newcastle, it\u2019s Sydney FC.<\/p>\n
Footballing philosophies are set to collide over the next two weekends when the Jets take on the Sly Blues for a place in the grand final.<\/p>\n
Newcastle has been the competition\u2019s fairytale story this season with an attacking style of play that has already led to premiership glory.<\/p>\n
No team scored more goals during the regular season than the Jets, who found the back of the net 55 times in 26 games.<\/p>\n
In contrast, Sydney has the A-League\u2019s best defensive record, being the only team to concede less than a goal per game.<\/p>\n
Under recently appointed coach Patrick Kisnorbo, the Sky Blues have become even more miserly, having kept four clean sheets in five games under the guidance of the former Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City mentor.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s sometimes dour approach under Kisnorbo isn\u2019t everyone\u2019s cup of tea, but it is a \u201cfresh perspective\u201d that has been effective and welcomed by in-form Sky Blues goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old gloveman, and Sydney\u2019s recent back four of fullbacks Rhyan Grant and Ben Garuccio, and previously under-used central defenders Alexandar Popovic and Jordan Courtney-Perkins, are full of confidence heading into Saturday night\u2019s semi-final first-leg clash at Allianz Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just in the clean sheets, but also on the training pitch,\u201d Devenish-Meares said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we do good defensive actions we\u2019re always gassing each other up, and even off the field we\u2019re just talking about the game and how we can improve.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot and lot of belief in each other. In any team environment, that\u2019s a beautiful thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you know the guys around you have so much confidence, you almost know what they\u2019re going to do before they do it. That helps you perform at your best as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Devenish-Meares has received most of the credit for Sydney having only conceded 25 goals during the regular season, he said he could not have done it without the help of his defenders.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we\u2019re defending, we\u2019re all defending together, and that makes my job so much easier,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s only so much I can do as a goalkeeper. I rely on the defence so much, so if they\u2019re forcing predictable situations for me, then it just makes my life much easier.<\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely feed off them. It gives me a lot of confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Devenish-Meares said Kisnorbo showing belief in Popovic and Courtney-Perkins had also been crucial.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe (Kisnorbo) has given guys a go that would have probably been out of the squad otherwise, and that helps everyone,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going from strength to strength every week, and this week is another opportunity to show how good we can be.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re been building towards something as a squad.\u201d<\/p>\n