The 2016-17 A-league season continues this weekend and despite facing their biggest challenge yet, Sydney FC remain undefeated and on the top of the table. Continue reading for our A-league Week 6 Preview and Betting Tips.
Melbourne City vs Newcastle Jets (Thursday 7.50pm AEST)
Thursday night football will see Melbourne City host the Newcastle Jets as both sides look to bounce back from losses. City weren’t able to crack the Roar’s defence in Brisbane as they clearly missed the impact of socceroo Tim Cahill. It is rare for the Melbourne side to be held scoreless and we are predicting the likes of Cahill and Bruno Fornaroli to want to contribute in a big way.
Meanwhile the Jets are beginning to play the style of football we predicted from them to start the season – poor. They are the first side to lose to the Phoenix this year and they were lucky it wasn’t by a lot more. The side doesn’t offer much in attack while they offer a lot less in defence, this could be an ugly one for them.
TIP: HT/FT - City/City @ $2.00 with Sportsbet
Adelaide United vs Brisbane Roar (Friday 7.50pm AEST)
Adelaide United disappointed their fans on the weekend as they became the first side in over half a year to lose to the Central Coast Mariners. The Reds were able to open the scoring and put on a dominant display in the first half but they weren’t able to keep the intensity and ultimately fell away in the second half for the embarrassing loss.
The Roar have been inconsistent this season but find themselves in second position on the ladder. They have been poor on the road and it could be a challenge for them this weekend to put together a strong performance. However, they are up against an outfit that is low on confidence and haven’t spent much time playing together and they will be able to earn the victory.
TIP: Roar @ $2.80 with CrownBet
Central Coast Mariners vs Wellington Phoenix (Saturday 5.35pm AEST)
These two sides were finally able to earn their first victory for the 2016-17 season. The Mariners came from behind against the Reds on the road which is a huge confidence and character builder, but the side still lacks a lot of experience and will struggle to put together these types of performances on a regular basis.
Meanwhile the Phoenix finally got to display their solid attack that a lot of teams and experts had been discussing prior to the season commencing. They manged only two goals against the Jets but they could have scored a lot more if they had of had their shooting boots on. The positive sign is that they were creating a lot of opportunities and they managed to keep a clean sheet. They will be on the road this weekend but we are predicting them to come away with a narrow win.
TIP: Phoenix @ $2.55 with William Hill
Melbourne Victory vs Western Sydney Wanderers (Saturday 7.50pm AEST)
These two sides are separated by just one-competition point in the early stages of the season but all points are valuable. The Victory weren’t able to cause an upset against Sydney FC but they were the first side to crack their defence. It was a good showing from the team that was considered to be the favourites to lift the trophy and it is definitely something to build upon for coach Kevin Muscot. The side will be looking for more in attack while they can’t afford to let in costly goals on the break.
The Wanderers were able to snatch a draw against the Glory on the road on the weekend and it was in an entertaining match. The Wanderers have scored seven goals in five matches but it is their defence that is letting them down. They have conceded on average two goals a match and they need to improve in this area if they are going to continue to challenge the top sides. We are predicting them to put up a fight but the home side will win this one.
TIP: Victory @ $2.05 with Ladbrokes
Sydney FC vs Perth Glory (Sunday 5pm AEST)
The Sky Blues conceded their first goal of the year on the weekend and they would have been disappointed with how the goal was scored. It was a lack of concentration but nevertheless it was inevitable to have a goal find the back of their net. It was good to see the side overcome adversity as two-goal hero David Carney ensured the side would remain undefeated and with five wins in as many matches. The sides structure is very strong and coach Graham Arnold has clearly given his side a winning mentality.
The Glory have already produced a couple of upsets this year and have the capabilities of doing it again this weekend with their solid attack. They will need to be at their best to break the structure and defence of the Sky Blues. However, we don’t think they will be able to do it enough to worry the side as the Glory’s defence isn’t strong enough to withstand the Sky Blues attack and the side will be affected by being on the road.
TIP: Sydney FC @ $1.67 with Sportsbet
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
