Jets left short-handed

Bleiberg and Milicevic exchanged words on the pitch in the emotion-charged match at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Wednesday night, where the Jets came away with a 2-0 victory.

This came after Milicevic had baited the visiting side with his provocative pre-match comments in which he declared the Jets would "smash" Gold Coast and that only one player, Jason Culina, would be worthy of a Newcastle jersey.

"At the end of the day Ljubo reminds me of myself when I was young, a bit controversial he gives you guys (the media) some material to write," a candid Bleiberg said after the match.

"When he said 'let's go and smash the Gold Coast' so be it but then to say none of the Gold Coast's players are good enough to play in Newcastle ... he just went too low.

"I've never gone that low I'm a bit more classy than he is and I've had my fair share of controversy.

"But the bottom line is last year we finished above Newcastle and this year we are above Newcastle. So if his team is so good under his leadership how is it that they are always underneath us?

"But I'm not holding it against him, he is a very good player and a nice guy but he has to be a bit more classy with his comments."

Comments aside the Jets look to be the form team at the moment, equalling a club record with a seven-match unbeaten streak and leapfrogging Melbourne Victory to climb to fifth on the ladder.

But Wednesday night's fiery encounter with United came at a price.

They will now be without their skipper Milicevic, who was sent off after picking up his second yellow card late in the match while Kasey Wehrmen will also miss the Jets' next match after copping his fifth booking of the season.

They join the already-suspended Jobe Wheelhouse on the sidelines while the Jets will also be without the injured Ben Kantarovski, who underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will be out of action for up to six months, Ruben Zadkovich, Sean Rooney and Michael Bridges.

This leaves coach Branko Culina with a badly depleted squad for Saturday's away clash with Wellington Phoenix in what has become their fortress - Westpac Stadium.

"I'm a bit worried about Wellington, we're going to lose a few players from the squad and we're already a bit thin," Culina said.

"It certainly will test us."

Added to the sqaud for the Phoenix game are young guns James Virgili and Jacob Pepper, plus Slovenian striker Tomislav Misura.

<b>Newcastle Jets squad:</b> 40. Matthew NASH (gk), 2. Taylor REGAN, 3. Adam D’APUZZO, 4. Nikolai TOPOR STANLEY, 11. Tarek ELRICH 13. Sasho PETROVSKI, 14. Labinot HALITI, 17. Marcello FIORENTINI, 18. Marko JESIC, 19. Ali ABBAS, 22. Kaz PATAFTA 24. Francis JEFFERS, 27. Tomislav MISURA, 31. Jacob PEPPER, 26. James VIRGILI, 1. Ben KENNEDY.