The following are previews with betting tips for Matchweek 10 of the 2020/21 A-League season.
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Friday, February 26
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Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar9:05 PM AEDT, HBF Park |
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Perth haven’t played since the 5th of FEB. That was when they beat Adelaide 2-1 at Hindmarsh Stadium. Their goals that evening came via a 73rd min strike to Fornaroli and an OG 10 mins later to Timotheou. With 63% possession of the ball, they shot 6/13 on target. Whilst they also completed 85% of their passes, good for 485/568. This was their 3rd win of the season from 5 attempts. And the big question for them is how will they fare after all this time off? They may play brilliantly and not skip a beat, or it may be ugly for them. We’ll just have to wait and see.
The Roar are sitting pretty in 2nd place at the moment on 14 points. Last time out they shared a well earned point with Sydney in what was a 0-0 draw, in Kogarah. With 42% possession throughout the match, they shot 4/12 on target. And they did well not to concede either with Sydney taking 17 shots and Jamie Young making several quality saves throughout the match. That while they also completed a very strong 81% of their passes. Something that was good for 335/414. Warren Moon has this side firing on all cylinders at the moment and it’s just awesome to see.
Perth have that ‘unknown’ element to them, but as the Roar have displayed all season long, they’re just too classy for 95% of the competition. They should get the close win here.
Betting tips: Pick Brisbane to win at $2.90 (UniBet)
Also pick them to score first at $2.10 (Bet365)
Saturday, February 27
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Western Sydney v Adelaide United5:05 PM AEDT, Bankwest Stadium |
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The Wanderers are in the Top 4 after their exciting 2-2 draw with Wellington last week in Wollongong. And it was a definitive 9-minute period from the 71st to the 79th that helped make the game what it was. All of Yeboah, Kamau and Fenton found the back of the net during that period. Whilst the Nix also opened the scoring inside the first 10 mins of the match. The Wanderers also owned 59% of the ball and shot a massively impressive 8/24 on target. Outside of that, they completed a solid 87% of their passes. Something that was good for 489/561. Carl Robinson is slowly getting his side to play his brand of Football and safe to say it’s paying dividends for the club.
As a fan of the beautiful game, Mauk in no way, shape or form deserves any of the online abuse that he’s received. If you are doing that, you should be ashamed of yourself. He did not make the calls! The referring on the other hand was simply atrocious. Juric scored 3X penalties as the Reds came away from home with a close 3-2 win over the Central Coast. Rowles also received a red card in the 97th min for the away side. To be honest, the less said about this game the better. They might’ve escaped here, but Adelaide still has a heck of a lot of work to do to escape the rut that they’re in at the moment. Whether this win actually meant something or not will be on full display against Western Sydney.
Adelaide are performing shockingly at the moment, while the Wanderers weren’t without their chances to win it vs the Nix. It’s a pretty safe pick as to who will win here.
Betting tips: Pick WSW to win at $2.10 (BlueBet, Sportsbet)
Also pick them to score first at $1.61 (Bet365)
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Melbourne Victory v Western United7:10 PM AEDT, Marvel Stadium |
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At AAMI Park last matchweek, after a 1-0 loss to the Jets, the fans booed the Victory off the ground and chanted “we’re f****ng s**t.” It’s pretty dire times for the once proud powerhouse at the moment. Brebner said post-match tough calls would need to be made. Tough calls should’ve been made at least a couple of games ago. He’s inexperienced and just isn’t the right manager for them at this point in time. He needs to go, whilst some of their marquee signings such as Gestede also need to be slapped across the face or let go. These two men are doing no justice at all to this club and it’s an embarrassing sight. Hopefully this Derby awakens the inner beast within them, otherwise who knows right?
For W.U., they turned it on last game at home, thrashing the Bulls 4 goals to 1 in what was only their 2nd win of the season. But in a sign of how close the A-League is this campaign, they’re also just 2 wins of 2nd place. Guarrotxena scored first in the 26th min, then Berisha in the 45th. Pierias the birthday boy then bagged one just 9 mins into the second half. And then it was Berisha who had his second in the 66th min. This game was simply beautiful Football from the Victorian-based side! Fingers crossed there’s more of it from them in the future. And I’m sure they’d love it to happen in this encounter as well.
There is the chance that the Victory decide to actually turn up and give it a fair shot this game, but given W.U.’s commanding win last match, they deserve to be favourites for this one. Pick them for all three points here.
Betting tips: Pick Western United to be victorious at $2.80 (UniBet, BlueBet)
Also pick the highest scoring halve to be the 2nd at $2.00 (Bet365)
Sunday, February 28
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Sydney FC v Macarthur FC4:05 PM AEDT, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium |
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Grant hit the woodwork twice in the second half, in what was a bit of an unlucky game from the Sky Blues, as they drew nil-all with Brisbane last match. Sydney may only be in 5th place at the moment, but that’s still a finals berth. While they’re still the back-to-back Champions as well. So to all those idiots calling for Steve Corica’s head, you clearly are uneducated and haven’t been following Sydney in much detail this campaign. Le Fondre’s gone and Barbarouses has been as bad as he could possibly be, that’s been difficult for Corica to deal with. But in my eyes and many others eyes, he’s dealt with the poor situation at hand pretty well. And we all remember what happened last time they met the Bulls (they won 3-0)? Look for Corica to silence the doubters and pull out another masterclass coaching performance in this one.
Thrashed 4-1 away from home to the struggling W.U., suffice to say it was a CRAP performance from Macarthur last clash. Derbyshire scored his 6th of the season in the 91st min and that was about all the good that came from that game for the Bulls. They are still in 3rd though and only 4 points of 1st, so it’s not all bad for them at the moment. With 61% ownage of the ball, they still shot a good 7/20 on target, while they also had a shot come of the woodwork. Look for them to put in a much improved performance in this one.
When these sides last faced off out West, 2X goals to Wood saw the Sky Blues come away with an easy victory. That won’t happen this time, but still you’d expect Sydney to come out on top in Kogarah.
Betting tips: Pick the Sky Blues to claim all three points at $1.91 (UniBet)
Also pick there to be at least one goal in each halve at $1.65 (UniBet)
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Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix6:10 PM AEDT, McDonald Jones Stadium |
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The Jets made it 5 undefeated in a row while they also cosigned the struggling Victory to their 5th loss of the season in what was a tight 1-0 win at AAMI Park. Celebrating his 50th match for the club, Thurgate did it in style as he scored the games only goal 18 minutes from time, after a brilliant assist from Yuel. With 53% ownage of the ball, they shot 5/11 on target. That while they also completed an impressive 81% of their passes. Good for 319/396. Now in 6th spot on 11 points, I think it’s pretty safe to say that their shocking start to the season is now dead and buried for good. And they are just a win of 2nd place. Everything’s coming up Milhouse, err crossed out Newcastle.
For the Nix, it may have only been their 5th point of the season, but they are no longer = bottom and now instead they’re just 2 wins of a finals spot. This after their thrilling 2-2 draw with the Wanderers last matchweek at the Wollongong Showground. Their goals came via Muratovic in the 9th min and Fenton in the 79th min. While WSW’s goals came courtesy of Yeboah in the 71st min and then Kamau 6 mins later. The Nix only owned 41% possession of the ball, but they still shot 5/15 on target. Whilst they also had a strong effort denied courtesy of the woodwork. They also completed a great 83% of their passes. Good for 342/413. They need to overcome their inconsistencies! That much is true!
Newcastle have won 2 and Wellington 2, of the last 4 clashes played between these two sides. A draw here is a sort of a fair enough option.
Betting tips: Pick both sides to score at least once each at $1.57 (Bet365, BlueBet)
Also pick there to be at least one goal in each halve at $1.57 (UniBet)
Tuesday, March 2
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Western Sydney v Melbourne City7:05 PM AEDT, Bankwest Stadium |
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Kwame Yeboah scored 2 goals last season. He’s already reached that number this campaign. The former Brisbane man is improving his game a bit for WSW, with more on target shots 6, then off, 5, attempted by him this campaign. He also has 4 shot assists, while 72% of his passes (38 in total), have reached the desired team mate. However, there’s more he could be doing to become more of an influence in the side. Ibini hasn’t been that consistent, while neither have others such as Russell or K. Baccus. If he can back up that goal against the Nix with another against City, then that’ll continue to make him a go to attacking option within the Wanderers side.
City are going very poorly this season, as they currently sit in 10th spot on a 3 game losing streak, They have just 2 wins from 6 games and they also hold the = third worst GD in the A-League at -4. Something needs to change for them and quick! Their latest efforts were a 1-0 loss to the Jets in Newcastle. They conceded in the 40th min to Yuel, while they themselves only shot 4 on target the entire match. They also completed just 73% of their passes, good for only 305/417. Before that it was 3-2 loss to the Mariners. And prior to that it was a 3-1 loss to Perth. Two games before that saw them go down 2-0 to the Reds. Something needs to happen/or to come from this game for this success demanding side!
City need to do something to get a win. That something might just be an away game in Western Sydney.
Betting tips: Pick City to claim the upset W at odds of $2.30 or more when they become available.
Also pick them to score first at odds of $1.20 or more when they become available.
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Perth Glory v Central Coast9:20 PM AEDT, HBF Park |
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Through 4 games this season, Andy Keogh has 0 goals scored, yet he is a Forward. He once described Usain Bolt as ‘having a touch like a trampoline’, it’s a bit like him at the moment isn’t it? It’s a no wonder he’s only averaging 68 minutes per game if I’m being brutally honest. Suffice to say he needs to do a lot, lot better than that of what he currently is. In 8th spot, but competing in a tight competition, his goals could do them the absolute world of good in helping them rise further and further up the ladder. CCM have led their guard down a bit defensively as of late, so this is his chance to get his season on track and help Perth make a legitimate run at the Championship.
At Hindmarsh CCM, were screwed last game. They simply were and there’s no way around it. They ‘leaked’ 3 penalties all of which were converted by Juric in their 3-2 defeat. While Rowles also saw red in the 97th min. As mentioned in Adelaide’s match section, Mauk definitely doesn’t deserve the online BS he’s been copping. But legitimate questions do absolutely need to be asked of the referees and their integrity in this one. They’re still 1st on 18 points, but their 4-point gap between them and 2nd should be a bit bigger than that of what it currently is. De Silva scored in the 15th min and Kuol in the 63rd, in what was his = league leading 6th of the season. The less said about this game the better to be totally honest.
Mariners are winning this one. Make no doubt about it!
Betting tips: Pick the Mariners to win at odds of $1.80 or more when they become available.
Also pick Kuol to score anytime at odds of $2.05 or more when they become available.