England legend Emile Heskey punished by unfair fans Emile Heskey in action for Newcastle Jets against Adelaide United. THE Adelaide United faithful rolled in on Saturday night to catch past club favourites and a man named Heskey, but no one counted on a Dutch journeyman stealing the limelight and points for Newcastle Jets. At 35, Kew Jaliens could be forgiven for contemplating pub football but has instead transformed a Jets defence that bordered on the hopeless last season. The towering stopper even put the visitors ahead before the break with his first A-League goal. Jaliens featured in Marco van Basten' 2006 World Cup campaign including a clash with the Argentina where The Netherlands kept a clean sheet so there was quality fuelling this veteran. The Newcastle visit was a homecoming for former Reds forward Nathan Burns and keeper Mark Birighitti. Hindmarsh was also supposed to roll out the welcome mat for former Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey. However Josep Gombau's side was expected to prevail - loaded with possession players against a side tipped for the wooden spoon. Jets coach Gary van Egmond's job was on the line with defeat last night. Now it is Reds counterpart Gombau facing the heat even after a double change of Bruce Djite and Cassio gave the Reds a sniff. A 2-1 loss wasn't in the script. Adelaide's tiki-taka game looked less convincing against the lowly Jets than it did in gallant losses to Central Coast and Western Sydney Wanderers. Promising striker Adam Taggart extended the lead, toying with Adelaide's defence before chipping past keeper Eugene Galekovic straight after the resumption. Van Egmond eventually introduced Heskey on the 70th minute, meaning the exit of unlucky Taggart but it was the youngster who had done the business. Heskey, in his first start this season obliged with an immediate glimpse of the touch that bankrolled 62 England caps. The veteran turned Isaias and had a pass to Joshua Brilliante intercepted by Elrich that prevented Newcastle's third. However, it wouldn't be a Premier League-class goal from Heskey that would set the stadium alight. Boogaard instead etched Heskey into A-League history, the victim of a crude tackle by the stopper that equalled Kevin Muscat's record of five A-League straight red cards. It was an overdue appearance by a marquee A-League recruit at Coopers Stadium with Heskey and Sydney FC's Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero missing trips to Adelaide last season. Heskey deserved more respect on field and from United fans who so served it up to the star before the whistle.