Week 7 Preview
We’re well into the new A-League season and it’s remarkable that we still see an undefeated team sit atop of the competition ladder. Sydney FC recorded their sixth straight win last week and will be gunning for 7 in a row when they take on Brisbane Roar on Sunday afternoon; a team well in form and sitting third on ladder.
A-League fans will be excited by the thoughts of a double header on Friday night, with Western Sydney Wanderers hosting Melbourne City FC whilst Perth Glory will battle a struggling Adelaide United outfit. The reigning premiers are winless this season; being the only team who have failed to record a victory.
Wellington Phoenix will be looking to continue their stunning return to form when they face Melbourne Victory, with both sides coming off wins and also playing full of confidence. Week 7 will wrap up on Sunday afternoon with the first F3 derby of the season, with Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners facing off and attempting to bounce back to form after both coming off some harsh defeats.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs. Melbourne City FC
Friday 18 November 7.50pm LOCAL
Spotless Stadium
Western Sydney Wanderers are coming off a bruising 3-0 loss to Melbourne Victory last weekend, and have failed to record a victory since Week 2 of this season. They sit seventh on the competition ladder and will be looking to contain the sublime form of Bruno Fornaroli who has bagged six goals so far this year. They can take confidence in knowing they have only lost one game in their last seven appearances on home soil.
Melbourne City have failed to find consistency in recent weeks having won two of their last four games this season with the other two fixtures resulting in losses to Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar. Arguably the form player of the competition, Bruno Fornaroli leads the competition with six goals so far this season, and needs just two more to break into the top 20 all time A-League goal scorers. He will no doubt look to inspire his team this weekend in the hopes of holding onto second place.
Wanderers are really struggling for form and are up against a team who will be desperate to find some consistency in their performances. With Fornaroli firing, I think the away team will be too hard to stop in this encounter.
Tip: Western Sydney Wanderers 0 Melbourne City 2
Best bet: Melbourne City Win ($2.50)
Did you know? No side has won back-to-back fixtures in this contest in their last eight meetings in the Hyundai A-League, dating back to November 2013
Perth Glory vs. Adelaide United
Friday 18 November 7.00pm LOCAL
NIB Stadium
Perth Glory put up a valiant fight against a strong Sydney FC outfit last weekend, and despite their 4-1 loss there are positive signs for the home team who still sit just outside the top four. They haven’t won in three fixtures, but are up against a struggling Adelaide side and have scored the third most goals this season (12). They will look to turn around their luck at home considering they have won only once in their last six home games against the defending premiers.
Adelaide United were much improved last week against Brisbane Roar, however only managed to salvage a draw whilst also breaking their losing streak of three. They have won only two of their last nine A-League away games, and will want to bounce back to form very quickly in order to get their title defence on track.
Perth will be looking to respond well after their big defeat last week, but after Adelaide’s performance against Brisbane it seems as though they are giving fans something to hope for as they look to restore pride back in their jersey.
Tip: Perth Glory 1 Adelaide United 2
Best bet: Adelaide United win ($3.40)
Did you know? Glory striker Andy Keogh is the only player so far this Hyundai A-League season to have scored with both left (1) and right (2) feet, as well as via a header (1).
Brisbane Roar vs. Sydney FC
Saturday 19 November 7.50pm LOCAL
Suncorp Stadium
Despite coming off a draw to Adelaide United last week, Brisbane Roar have maintained third position on the ladder having recorded three victories so far this season. They come up against an undefeated Sydney FC side, but can take confidence in knowing they have only conceded four goals in five games on home soil, and never conceding more than one in a single game throughout those fixtures.
The fairytale continues for Sydney FC, the only team in the competition who remain undefeated after 6 games. They are coming off a powerful 4-1 thrashing of Perth Glory, and have scored 17 goals so far this year whilst only conceding 2 goals in their opening six fixtures. They have four players sitting in the top 10 for goals scored, and will look to further continue their perfect start when they search for their fourth consecutive away clean sheet for the first time in the clubs history
It will be a tight contest knowing the form of either side, but Sydney are playing some outstanding football and look unbeatable at the moment. Sydney to hold on against a valiant Roar outfit.
Tip: Brisbane Roar 1 Sydney FC 2
Best bet: Sydney FC handicap -1.0 ($5.00)
Did you know? The Sky Blues are one of only two teams (Perth Glory) to have scored a goal in every 15 minutes period of a Hyundai A-League game so far this season.
Newcastle Jets vs. Central Coast Mariners
Sunday 20 November 5.00pm LOCAL
McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle Jets are struggling for form and are coming off three successive losses and sitting third last on the competition ladder. Despite their form, they are undefeated in their last five fixtures against Central Coast, having won the previous two games against them. Andrew Hoole will be looking to provide his team with further goal scoring opportunities this weekend, sitting second in the competition with 14 chances created.
Central Coast Mariners recorded their first victory in Week 5 of the competition, but their winning ways didn’t last long after a 2-0 defeat to Wellington Phoenix last Saturday afternoon. They will be searching for their first back-to-back victories away from home since April 2013, and will be looking for their first F3 derby win since October 2014.
Both teams have been unable to reach their full potential this year, and will be looking to respond to their last start defeats in the hope of climbing up the ladder closer towards the top four.
Tip: Newcastle Jets 2 Central Coast Mariners 2
Best bet: Game total over 2.5 ($1.60)
Did you know? All of Central Coast Mariners goals scored this Hyundai A-League season have been by the right boot; they are the only team yet to score from either a header or the left foot.
