Preview of round nine of the A-League this weekend (all times local).

FRIDAY
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v NEWCASTLE JETS at Bluetongue Stadium, 8pm

Head to head: Central Coast 3, Newcastle 6, drawn 6

Last meeting: Newcastle Jets 1 drew with Central Coast Mariners 1 at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Rd 1, Aug 2008.

TAB Sportsbet: Central Coast $2.10, Newcastle $3.25, Draw $3.25

The `F3 derby’ comes at an ideal time for reigning champions Newcastle, who returned to form with easily their best display of the season to beat Melbourne 1-0 last week. Jets coach Gary van Egmond will be eager to continue that form in what is always one of the most intense rivalries fought out in the A-League. It’s a different story for the Mariners though, who were poor in losing 1-0 to Wellington at home. Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna rightly described the performance as “shocking” and he will expect nothing less than a considerable improvement here. History is against the Mariners, who have won just three of the 15 fixtures between the sides but McKinna’s side has been one of the most consistent since the inception of the A-League and rarely produce back-to-back poor performances.

Key: While the formline favours the Jets, passion and intensity on the night is likely to mean more with local bragging rights at stake.

Tip: Draw

SATURDAY
MELBOURNE VICTORY v SYDNEY FC at Telstra Dome, 7pm

Head to head: Melbourne 4, Sydney FC 1, drawn 5

Last meeting: Sydney FC 0 drew with Melbourne Victory 0 at the Sydney Football Stadium, Rd 1, Aug 2008.

TAB Sportsbet: Melbourne $1.95, Sydney FC $3.60, Draw $3.35

Four red cards in five matches is an astounding statistic, and is the talking point of the Victory’s season despite them sitting top of the league. Melbourne have played for 160 minutes this season with 10 men and in proof that truth is stranger than fiction, their last three send-offs have all come in the 57th or 58th minute. Latest to fall foul of the refs was Socceroo striker Archie Thompson, suspended for this game for his red card. But while the Victory’s attack has been dealt a blow, so has Sydney FC’s defence with Tony Popovic carrying an injury and Iain Fyfe suspended. Here’s another interesting statistic – Sydney FC have only beaten the Victory once in 10 attempts. They may never have a better chance, but the Victory does appear to have the depth to cover its sundry losses.

Key: Melbourne striker Danny Allsopp will have added responsibility without Thompson alongside him, and his output will be pivotal.

Tip: Melbourne Victory.

SUNDAY
WELLINGTON PHOENIX v QUEENSLAND ROAR at Westpac Stadium, 5pm

Head to head: Wellington 0, Queensland 2, drawn 2

Last meeting: Wellington Phoenix 1 drew with Queensland Roar 1 at Westpac Stadium, Rd 1, Aug 2008

TAB Sportsbet: Wellington $2.55, Queensland $2.55, Draw $3.30

For a team which looked championship contenders in beating Melbourne Victory not so long ago, defeat here would leave the Roar facing an uphill battle just to make the top four. Queensland were beaten by a dubious Adelaide goal last weekend. Roar coach Frank Farina let loose at officialdom and had a right to feel aggrieved. But it’s hard to feel too much sympathy for a team which routinely butchers scoring chances at home. Plenty of signs of life across the ditch of late, with the Phoenix excellent in beating Central Coast away last weekend. Two wins and a draw in the Phoenix’s past three, and they now need to make home a fortress if they want to make the finals – something they are capable of. Their much-maligned back-four finally have solidity about them, and the excellent Shane Smeltz is the competition’s equal top scorer.

Key: Wellington’s ex-Socceroo Jon McKain has found form in a shielding role in front of the back-four. The Queenslander was a favourite of Farina at national level, and could be a nemesis to his old mates.

Tip: Draw

ADELAIDE UNITED v PERTH GLORY at Hindmarsh Stadium, 4.30pm

Head to head: Adelaide 5, Perth 2, drawn 3

Last meeting: Adelaide United 1 bt Perth Glory 0 at Hindmarsh Stadium, Rd 1, Aug 08.

TAB Sportsbet: Adelaide $1.73, Perth $4.60, Draw $3.40

Adelaide will still be well and truly buzzing after booking a berth in the Asian Champions League final this week but it’s hard to gauge how their semi-final win will affect this fixture. Aurelio Vidmar’s men will surely be high in confidence but they are bound to be fatigued after two fixtures inside a week and an arduous trip to and from Tashkent. Vidmar, however, continues to prove himself as a top-rate coach and indicated he is well-equipped to handle tricky situations by masterminding a 1-0 upset win over Queensland last Friday despite the distraction of the ACL semi-final. Perth scored an impressive 2-1 win over Sydney FC last week but coach Dave Mitchell will be desperate to back it up with a good performance here. It’s something the Glory have struggled with in recent years, having not claimed back-to-back wins since November 2006.

Key: Balancing Asian success and A-League form will prove a big challenge for United and with the first leg of the ACL final looming large on November 5, Vidmar will surely approach United’s domestic fixtures with a degree of caution.

Tip: Draw

© AAP 2012

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