Last-gasp Roar piles on misery for Jets

Battling Newcastle Jets fell to a gut-wrenching last-gasp 2-1 loss against Brisbane Roar at Hunter Stadium on Friday night.

Brisbane Roar's Jean Carlos Solorzano (right) celebrates his opening goal against the Newcastle Jets with teammate Shane Stefanutto (AAP)

After two weeks of turmoil on the Hunter, the re-launched Jets played with a passion and commitment missing from its horror 7-0 loss to Adelaide.

But it was not enough to see them avert another defeat as a stoppage time own goal from substitiute Allan Welsh handed Brisbane all three points.

Welsh, who had only come on seconds earlier, got the last touch to the ball as Thomas Broich whipped in a late free-kick.

With five players and three coaches sacked, Phil Stubbins fielded a much changed side and there were some significant signs of improvement.

But it may take time to win back the hearts and minds of disaffected fans, with the game played in a subdued atmosphere in front of a meagre turnout.

The result left the ninth-placed Jets with just eight points from 16 games, while Brisbane moved within a point of the top six.

Jean Carlos Solorzano gave Brisbane a first half lead, before substitute Radaovan Pavicevic relpied in the 71st minute, taking advantage of a slip up from Corey Brown to burst through on goal and poke the ball home at the second attempt.

Stubbins was booed as he walked from the pitch but he described the result as a step in the right direction.

"From last weeks's performance to this one, it was a massive improvement," Stubbins said. "It seems to be the story of our campaign to date - the boys, to a man, put in a solid shift.

"We got some pride back, a bit of redemption. We were very, very unfortunate to lose it in the way we did."

Roar coach Frans Thijssen said despite taking the three points, he was disappointed with his troops compared to the performance they put on in their win over Wellington the previous week.

"We know (the Jets) have some problems but we told them it could be an advantage because they have new players and they want to fight for the coach," he said.

"It looked like it because they were fighting all over the place in the first half and they couldn't get through. And when they go one behind, you hope their heads go down and it will be easier for us in the second half.

"But, in the end, we didn't create a lot in the second half and we were very lucky with that last-minute goal."

The Jets almost got off to a dream start when Sydney FC-bound wideman Andrew Hoole crossed from the right and Ecuadorian striker Edson Montano crashed a header against the bar, when he really should have scored.

Despite having the bulk of possession in a tight first half, the Jets were hit by a sucker punch in the 35th minute when keeper Ben Kennedy stayed rooted to his line from a Broich corner and the ball fell to Solorzano, who cheekily back-heeled the ball home for his fourth goal in five games.

Hoole was again the creator for the Jets as they sought to hit back, but Roar keeper Michael Theo was quickly off his line to deny Mitch Cooper in the 41st minute.

Theo denied the same player again in the 54th minute, tipping away his header.

In the end, the Jets were left with a familiar sinking feeling as they slumped to their 10th loss of a nightmare season.