Saturday, 18 November 2017: Newcastle have suffered their first defeat of the A-League season, going down to Sydney FC 2-1 at Allianz Stadium.

Sydney FC have put their Gosford nightmare behind them with a 2-1 home win over Newcastle to return to the top of the A-League and hand the Jets their first defeat of the season.

Embed from Getty Images
Milos Ninkovic and Bobo scored the goals in a cardless game that ebbed between action and flat periods, as driving rain and wind pummelled Allianz Stadium.

After last weekend's shock defeat to Central Coast, another hiccup would have been somewhat of a crisis for a team who don't 'do' losing.

Sydney coach Graham Arnold said he'd pushed his squad for a reaction and was pleased apart from their continuing failure to put teams away early.

"I do believe I got a very good reaction for 45-60 minutes," Arnold said.

"Execution is what we need, to be more ruthless.

"It should have been over in the first 60 minutes."

On Saturday night the champions played decidedly quicker and with greater purpose, and had a goal within five minutes to show for it.

Bobo, unleashed by David Carney, threaded Jets defenders and skinned Ben Kantarovski and Ivan Vijuca before crossing for Ninkovic's left-foot first-time finish.

Jack Duncan was evaded on that occasion but the visiting goalkeeper made several outstanding saves to keep the Jets in the game. He denied Bobo twice in quick succession before the break.

Unfortunately for Duncan, it amounted to little due to a clanger that allowed Sydney to double their lead on the hour.

A Josh Brillante cross put Bobo through and the gloveman spilled the subsequent overcooked shot, allowing the Brazilian to tap home with ease.

The Jets keenly felt the absence of striker Roy O'Donovan due to a minor groin complaint.

They were still enterprising, with prowling winger Joe Champness proving an industrious outlet and Andrew Nabbout fashioning chances.

Dimi Petratos didn't need any support when he sized up Sydney's goal from 25 metres out and ripped a long-range drive that bounced on the wet surface and skidded straight past a poorly positioned Andrew Redmayne.

Sydney suddenly had a game on their hands, but they also had one on Tuesday to think about in the all-important FFA Cup final.

Perhaps with that in mind, Ninkovic and skipper Alex Brosque - the record-holder for most Sky Blues appearances (179) - were given early marks to make way for Polish winger Adrian Mierzejewski and A-League debutant Charles Lokolingoy.

The fight continued as Bobo blasted over the bar and Brandon O'Neill clashed heads with Champness to thwart a late equaliser, but the Jets could not find a way through.

"We threw away the game in the first half, we tried to play safe football," Jets coach Ernie Merrick said.

"Away from home the last two weeks now we've played fairly defensive football, playing square and back passes."