Round 16 match-by-match A-League preview

Preview of round 16 of the A-League (all times AEDT):

FRIDAY

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v PERTH GLORY at Bluetongue Stadium, 8pm

Head to head: Central Coast 9, Perth 1, drawn 3

Last meeting: Central Coast 2 bt Perth Glory 1 at Canberra Stadium, September 2009

TAB Sportsbet: Central Coast $1.88, Draw $3.30, Perth $4

If there were any of Central Coast’s pre-season doubters left then surely they were silenced by the Mariners’ comprehensive 5-1 defeat of North Queensland last week. The win, which followed a 4-0 away thrashing of Melbourne Victory, showed Lawrie McKinna’s side are genuine title contenders this season. The stats certainly back that up, with a clear league-best defensive record of nine goals conceded and 22 scored, a goal tally second only to the Victory (23). They get a good chance to keep their momentum going at Bluetongue Stadium, where they are yet to lose this season. But it won’t be easy against a Perth Glory outfit that returned to form with a 2-0 home win over Sydney FC last week. If history is any guide, though, the Mariners are deserved favourites having won nine of the 13 clashes between the sides.

Key: Winning away from home has always been a challenge for the Glory and they haven’t done so since their victory in Newcastle two months ago.

Tip: Central Coast

SATURDAY

MELBOURNE VICTORY v GOLD COAST UNITED at Etihad Stadium, 7pm

Head to head: Melbourne 1, Gold Coast 0, drawn 0

Last meeting: Melbourne 3 bt Gold Coast 2 at Etihad Stadium, Sept 2009

TAB Sportsbet: Melbourne $2.05, Draw $3.30, Gold Coast $3.40

Just as Gold Coast slowly looked to be getting their season back on track, coach Miron Bleiberg has been hit with a significant selection headache this week. A combination of injury and suspension has left United with only 13 senior players able to train, meaning Gold Coast will have to rely on youth in one of their biggest matches of the season. United will at least have big guns Jason Culina and Shane Smeltz fit to take on the top-of-the-table Victory, but it still looks a mighty task for the Queenslanders. Take out surprise thrashings by Sydney FC and Central Coast and Melbourne have been the form side of the A-League in recent months, winning seven of their past nine games. Some encouragement though for the visitors is the fact that the Victory have been much better away from home this season, winning only two of eight at Etihad.

Key: The suspension to Dutch defender Bas Van Den Brink and injury to goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan are big blows for a Gold Coast side that must contain an in-form Archie Thompson.

Tip: Melbourne

NORTH QUEENSLAND FURY v ADELAIDE UNITED at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 9pm

Head to head: Adelaide 1, North Queensland 0, drawn 1

Last meeting: Adelaide 2 bt North Queensland 0 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Sept 2009

TAB Sportsbet: North Queensland $2.45, Draw $3.35, Adelaide United $2.65

The Fury have been far from disgraced in their inaugural season but if they are to make anything of it, it’s do-or-die time for Ian Ferguson’s men. The Fury’s confidence will have been rocked by a 5-1 thrashing by Central Coast last week but they have already shown this season they have the character to turn things around. The situation isn’t a whole lot better for Adelaide, who are just two points ahead of bottom place and badly in need of three points to propel them back into the finals mix. The Reds have struggled in front of goal in recent weeks but will be encouraged by the fact they have already put five goals past the Fury in their two matches this year. Promising youngster Mathew Leckie again looks a potential gamebreaker after he rescued a point against Gold Coast last week.

Key: Both sides have been notoriously slow starters in their matches this year, so nicking an early goal could prove vital for either side.

Tip: Draw

SUNDAY

SYDNEY FC v NEWCASTLE JETS at Sydney Football Stadium, 5pm

Head to head: Sydney FC 8, Newcastle 2, drawn 5

Last meeting: Sydney 2 bt Newcastle 1 at Sydney Football Stadium, Sept 2009

TAB Sportsbet: Sydney $1.65, Draw $3.45, Newcastle $5.25

Sydney FC will welcome a return to home turf after back-to-back losses on the road saw them relinquish the competition lead. They seemingly get the perfect chance to bounce back to form against a Newcastle side whose season slumped to a new low with a 1-0 loss at home to Wellington last week. Without a goal in their past two games, Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka will be after a much-improved performance from his “killer Bs”, Mark Bridge and Alex Brosque, against a team with the equal second-worst defensive record in the league. Outspoken Jets coach Branko Culina felt his side deserved to win when the sides last met in November and the sky blues prevailed 2-1. He was also critical of his Czech counterpart after that game and will be keen to notch one up for the “local” coaching contingent.

Key: In Bridge, Brosque, Steve Corica and John Aloisi, Sydney pack too much of an attacking punch to go another game without a goal.

Tip: Sydney FC

BRISBANE ROAR v WELLINGTON PHOENIX at Suncorp Stadium, 7pm

Head to head: Brisbane 4, Wellington 0, drawn 3

Last meeting: Brisbane 1 drew Wellington 1 at Suncorp Stadium, August 2009

TAB Sportsbet: Brisbane $2, Draw $3.35, Wellington $3.50

Wellington coach Ricki Herbert rightly pointed out his side should have been vulnerable heading into last week’s 1-0 win in Newcastle. Not only was the match played just a week after New Zealand’s World Cup heroics, it also kicked off in brutally hot conditions hardly favourable for the Kiwis. But, not for the first time this season, the Phoenix surprised everyone and ran out deserving winners in a another example of how far Herbert’s side has come. The Roar have shown glimpses of improvement under new coach Ange Postecoglou but need to quickly turn that into results or they can start planning for next season. The Roar will be without Brazilian striker Henrique through suspension, meaning they will look more to 17-year-old sensation Tommy Oar for some attacking spark.

Key: Almost anything good the Phoenix have done this year has involved striker Paul Ifill. Arguably the form player of the season, the Roar must shut him down to have any hope.

Tip: Draw

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