A-League Tips: Match Week 19

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• Author: Alex Christodoulou
  Feb 14, 2019 07:01 PM
• AAP

Sky Blues to bounce back after shock loss

With EPL action put on hold for a week, Australian soccer punters will focus all of their attention on the A-League over the weekend.

Our A-League tips cover three of the feature games from Match Week 19, including Sydney FC's attempt to bounce back against the Mariners, who are anchored to the bottom of the ladder.

Before that, Melbourne City journey up to Newcastle, in what is a must-win game for the Jets.

And can the Wanderers continue on their path to redemption when they face the Reds? Have a read of our preview and tip before betting on the game.

 

Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne City

A-League Odds: Jets $5 / Draw $4 / City $1.62

Friday night A-League action sees the Jets host Melbourne City in a must win game for the home side.

After an incredible and unexpected 2017/8 A-League season that saw the Novacastrians go all the way to the Grand Final, the Jets are looking like missing out on the finals altogether this time.

It has been a frustrating campaign for the Jets, who have yet to string two wins back to back.

Sitting in 7th spot on the ladder, Newcastle are eight points adrift from 6th-placed Wellington, meaning that every game, and especially the ones at home, are must win.

The good news is that the Jets are starting to play somewhere near their best.

The 5-1 demolition of the Wanderers two weeks ago was backed up by a solid 1-1 draw with the Phoenix last time out.

Despite the match ending in a draw, Newcastle created more "big chances" and hit the woodwork an incredible three times. With better finishing, the Jets would've recorded a comfortable win.

They get the chance to make amends here.

Both Ronald Vargas and Roy O'Donovan loom as the main threats to City's defence. This experienced duo are have scored 9 goals between them this campaign.

Considering that O'Donovan was suspended for the first eight rounds of the season, this number isn't as low as it first seems.

Their superior quality should be enough for the Jets to get at least a point in front of their home crowd.

Melbourne City will be confident of a win though, as they have finally solved their striker problem.

After Bruno Fornaroli was exiled from the team, Warren Joyce battled through a large part of the season with youngster Lachlan Wales and right back Ritchie de Laet playing up top.

Therefore, the recent acquisition of Socceroos striker Jamie Maclaren comes as a huge boost for the Melbournians.

They will need to overcome a poor away record though. 

City have only won three games on the road all season, and have lost all of their previous three away matches.

Key A-League Stat

• The previous 4 matches between these sides have been won by the home team: Jets to win @ $5.50

 A-League Tip: Double chance, Jets and Draw @ $2.25

Reasoning: Newcastle are desperate and coming off some positive form. With the home crowd behind them, look for a strong showing.

 

Adelaide United vs Western Sydney Wanderers

A-League Odds: Reds $1.62 / Draw $4.20 / WSW $4.50

After hitting rock bottom two weeks ago, there was only ever one way the Wanderers could go, and that was up.

They responded well after their 5-1 drubbing, securing a much needed 2-0 home victory over the Mariners.

While beating the Mariners is not much to celebrate about, this win is a stepping stone in the right direction.

The big positive was the clean sheet.

It was the first time the Wanderers had kept the opposition scoreless since their previous match with Central Coast all the way back on December 7.

19-year-old centre back Tass Mourdoukoutas came in and had a solid game alongside club captain Brendan Hamill.

However, against the quality of Adelaide's attackers, don't expect them to keep the opposition scoreless again.

The Reds are having a good year, and are currently holding down fourth place and a home final.

They are undefeated from their previous five matches- a streak that started with a 2-1 victory over the Wanderers up in Sydney.

Craig Goodwin scored the winning goal on this occasion, as well as providing the assist for Adelaide's first goal.

 

The Adelaide local has been a star since returning from Europe, and his putting his hand up as a contender for the Johnny Warren medal.

With 9 goals and 5 assists this campaign, Goodwin will once again be the main man for Adelaide going forward.

Coming off another goal-scoring performance last week, Goodwin will have the confidence to tear the wobbly Wanderers defence to shreds.

Considering they put four in the back of the net in their last game at home, don't be surprised if the Reds can repeat the dose here.

Key A-League stat

• WSW haven't defeated the Reds in the previous 8 matches between these sides: Adelaide to win or draw @ $1.14

 A-League Tip: Adelaide to win by 2+ goals @ $2.50

Reasoning: It's Western Sydney's poor defence that makes this bet the smart choice. 

 

Sydney FC vs Central Coast Mariners

A-League Odds: Sydney FC $1.25 / Draw $5.50 / Mariners $9.50

This David and Goliath battle sees bottom-of-the-table Central Coast make the short trip south to take on 3rd-placed Sydney.

After a shock 2-1 loss at the hands of the Roar last week, Sydney FC are stung.

Look for them to come out here with fire in their belly and put away a Mariners side that are woeful away from home.

The Mariners must get motion sickness because every time they play away from Gosford they are all over the place.

From their 10 away games this season, Central Coast have only secured 1 point, in a 1-1 draw with Brisbane all the way back in Round 1. 

Since then it has been 9 straight away losses, 5 of which have come by a margin of two or more goals.

Arguably their worst defeat on the road was a 5-2 thrashing that came at the hands of none other than Sydney FC on January 4.

It's no surprise then that the Sky Blues are starting as $1.25 favourites here.

Especially considering that the boys from Sydney town have won their past 5 home games.

However, these 5 games were all played at Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah, while the SFS is being rebuilt.

This home game however will be played at Leichhardt Oval.

It will be Sydney FC's first game at Leichhardt, which comes at a poor time, just as they were beginning to get comfortable with Jubilee Oval.

Therefore, while it is a Sydney FC home game, it certainly won't feel like home for the Sky Blues.

Having said that, they should still win by a comfortable margin.

Last week's loss was a timely wake-up call. Expert the superior squad quality of Sydney to show here.

Key A-League stat

• It has been 5 years since the Mariners have defeated the Sky Blues in Sydney: Sydney FC to win or draw @ $1.04

 A-League Tip: Sydney FC to win by 2+ goals @ $1.85

Reasoning: The only bet to go for based on the Mariners' away record.