Arthur Papas believes keeping cool heads when the heat is turned up will prove the key to success as the Newcastle Jets move on from the disappointment of an opening-round defeat.
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The Jets coach saw plenty of positives in the 2-1 loss to A-League arch rivals Central Coast at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday but said some polish was needed as they eyed a round-two match-up with Western Sydney this weekend.
The damage was done in a devastating period early in the second half where Newcastle conceded two goals in seven minutes - one after turning over the ball in the middle of the park and the second off a corner.
The double blow came after the Jets had looked more likely to score ahead of the break.
"That 20 minutes or so leading up to half-time, we really were in their half," Papas said.
"We were playing well, there was a lot of space and we needed to probably score a goal in that period to go in in a different state at half-time.
"But we didn't and that doesn't mean you can come outside and lose the game within seven minutes as well."
The Jets had their chances and, on another day, shots that hit the paintwork or glanced just wide of the goals might have gone in.
Ultimately, there was "not enough end product".
"Obviously, right now there's disappointment, but we'll find a lot of the things that we know that we've been working on that were evident out there for long passages," Papas said.
"Then we'll keep working on how to be more effective with the ball because in the second half, overall, it was something like 77 per cent possession at one stage. We've had 19 shots compared to 12.
"We've had a performance that warrants a result but we need to get better at not making errors at costly times and also managing the emotion of a game as well, because there was a seven-minute period where basically the game has been lost."
The Jets will be back in training today after a recovery day yesterday.
They meet Western Sydney Wanderers, who drew 0-0 with Sydney in round one, at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
The availability of utility Jason Hoffman for the second-round match is yet unknown.
The long-serving Jet started at left-back but was forced from the field with an adductor issue in the opening stages of the match and the extent of the injury was still being assessed.
"He wanted to continue but we're not at a stage to make him stay on the field if he's not 100 per cent," Papas said.
"He made a call which completely shows the character of the person to not try and stay out when he's not 100 per cent. Riley Warland came in and I thought he was excellent."
It is also unknown whether Georgian striker Beqa Mikeltadze will be available this weekend after his father passed away in the lead-up to the match.
Left-back Lucas Mauragis will be back in training with the Jets this week after he was forced to quarantine for two weeks on return from overseas duties with the Olyroos.
His two-week quarantine period ended on Saturday.
"After two weeks in quarantine, you're not really ready to move at the intensity that is required to play this football right now," Papas said.
"It'll take a little bit of time and hopefully sooner than later we'll have him in a position to play for us."
Defender Dylan Murnane is coming back from injury.
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