Melbourne City leads us into a new week of A-League action with a clash against Central Coast Mariners.
With four games to go through, the soccer gurus in the office have found the best bets.
Melbourne City vs. Central Coast Mariners
february 22nd 7:55pm
Melbourne City is on the hunt for consecutive wins when it faces Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park on Tuesday night.
City romped to victory against Newcastle on Friday with a 3-0 result as new signing Carl Jenkinson scored his first goal for the club.
Central Coast, meanwhile, needs to do some soul-searching after being heartbroken in the last moments of its clash against Melbourne Victory.
The Mariners conceded a 94th minute and dropped further away in the abyss after the 1-0 loss on Saturday night.
How they deal with a City squad that is now firing on full front in the final third is a massive task for coach Nick Montgomery to figure out.
Matthew Leckie and Jamie Maclaren are going to be a serious threat in this match.
City should be able to lock away another three points on its home deck.
Prediction: Melbourne City 2 Central Coast 1
Suggested Bet: Melbourne City head to head at $1.50
Western United vs. Sydney FC
february 23rd 5:25pm
League-leader Western United clashes with Sydney FC for the second time in a fortnight as they go head to head at AAMI Park on Wednesday night.
John Aloisi’s men kept their spot at the top of the league with a 3-2 win over Western Sydney on Sunday in a match that included a goal-of-the-year contender from Ben Garrucio.
Sydney FC, meanwhile, extended its unbeaten run to five games after a 1-1 draw against an in-form Wellington.
The Sky Blues are favourites for this match despite being on the road and only managed a 1-1 draw against Western United at home in the first fixture between the teams this season.
The extra day rest might prove pivotal in this contest, but there is no denying how well Western United is going.
Prediction: Western United 2 Sydney FC 1
Suggested bets: Western United head to head at $2.75
newcastle jets vs. western sydney wanderers
february 23th 7:55pm
Newcastle Jets return home for an encounter against Western Sydney after a mixed bag of results from its tenure down south to Melbourne.
The Jets, who sit 11th in the league, defeated Melbourne Victory 2-1 and followed it up with a lacklustre 3-0 loss against Melbourne City.
Arthur Pappas has definitely improved the Jets since last season, but he will have to put up with a Wanderers team who have completely turned their season around since acquiring Mark Rudan as head coach.
The Wanderers pushed Western United all the way in a 3-2 loss and can use that as an offensive platform into this clash.
Rudan will have to ensure his defensive unit is much more tight and compact than it was on Sunday given how potent the Jets front half is.
We will steer clear of the head to head, but think this game will go comfortably over 2.5 goals.
Prediction: Newcastle Jets 2 Western Sydney 2
Suggested bets: Half-time goals over 1.5 at $2.57
perth glory vs. macarthur fc
february 23rd 7:55pm
Launceston plays host to yet another Perth Glory ‘home game’ when Macarthur FC fly south for this Wednesday night clash.
Perth go the wheel moving on a potential mid-season revival with a Bruno Fornaroli double ensuring the Glory locked away all three points against a struggling Brisbane Roar outfit.
It has been a tough season for the Glory to date, with constant fixture changes and travel making it difficult for Richard Garcia and his men finding it hard to settle in a rhythm on the pitch.
Perth still has a heap of games in hand on all teams and a clash against a Macarthur team coming off a 4-1 win over Adelaide will be a great litmus test.
The Bulls sit fifth in the league, but, like Perth, they have a handful of games in hand on the teams above them.
Perth might just have the advantage having already played at UTAS this season and the form of Fornaroli was reminiscent of his days at Melbourne City.
Prediction: Perth Glory 1 Macarthur FC 0
Suggested bets: Perth Glory head to head at $2.75
