Preview of round five of the A-League this weekend (all times AEST).
THURSDAY
MELBOURNE VICTORY v NEWCASTLE JETS at Etihad Stadium, 7.30pm
Head to head: Melbourne 3, Newcastle 7, Drawn 2
Last meeting: Newcastle 4 bt Melbourne 2 at EnergyAustralia Stadium, December 2008
TAB Sportsbet: Melbourne $1.65, Draw $3.55, Newcastle $5
The Jets are brimming with confidence after handing Gold Coast United their first A-League defeat. That surprise home win has lifted them to third place on the ladder. But if they are to maintain that sort of status they need to vastly improve their record on the road. Their most recent away win came a full season ago, and their most recent trip to Etihad Stadium resulted in a 5-0 belting early last season. But the Victory have so far in this campaign failed to be the dominant force at home they were last season. And the Jets team that will visit Melbourne is a vastly different outfit to the one that came a year ago. One of the differences is the presence of Ljubo Milicevic, who has slotted in well with Newcastle. It was a different story during his stint with the Victory, where apparent personality clashes kept him on the outer and he will no doubt be keen to make a statement to his former bosses. The Jets will have to do without Shaun Ontong, while injury could also sideline Fabio Vignaroli. The Victory defence will again need to cope without injured skipper Kevin Muscat, while midfield star Carlos Hernandez is on international duty with his native Costa Rica.
Key: The Victory are yet to post a home win this season and if a Newcastle defence which has so far proved a solid unit can frustrate Melbourne for long enough, the pressure will steadily build.
Tip: Melbourne
FRIDAY
WELLINGTON PHOENIX v ADELAIDE UNITED at Westpac Stadium, 5.30pm
Head to Head: Wellington 0, Adelaide 4 , Draw 2
Last meeting: Adelaide 6 bt Wellington 1 at Hindmarsh Stadium, December 2008
TAB Sportsbet: Wellington $2.40, Draw $3.35, Adelaide $2.70
Already struggling to kick their season into gear, Adelaide have had the added distraction this week of dealing with a nightclub incident involving defender Robert Cornthwaite. The star stopper has been suspended for two games after being charged with assault. It is a setback the Reds could ill-afford, particularly with Scott Jamieson joining a worrying injury list that includes Travis Dodd, Cassio, Kristian Sarkies and Fabian Barbiero. Only a 93rd minute penalty saved Adelaide from going down to bottom-placed North Queensland at home last round, the Reds escaping with a 3-3 draw which exposed some defensive frailty. It leaves them desperately needing at least a point in Wellington, which is never an easy trip. The Phoenix have been further strengthened by the return of New Zealand national keeper Mark Paston, who missed last round’s 2-0 loss to Sydney to be at the birth of his first child.
Key: Wellington’s home ground advantage is as pronounced as that for any club in the league and might prove an obstacle too many for Adelaide.
Tip: Wellington
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v PERTH GLORY at Canberra Stadium, 8pm
Head to head: Central Coast 8, Perth 1, Drawn 3
Last meeting: Central Coast 1 bt Perth 0 at Bluetongue Stadium, December 2008
TAB Sportsbet: Central Coast $2.25, Draw $3.35, Perth $2.95
To say the Mariners have an imposing record against the Glory would be an understatement. Lawrie McKinna’s men have flat-out dominated their western rivals since the inception of the A-League, losing only once in 12 matches between the teams. At home, Central Coast have won six from six against Perth, so the Glory will be relieved the Mariners have shifted this match to Canberra with Bluetongue Stadium undergoing ground works. The Mariners have made a steady start to their campaign, suffering their first loss to Brisbane last week, while the Glory started to live up to their pre-season hype with consecutive wins over Newcastle and Melbourne. Striker Mile Sterjovski has shaken off a minor hamstring complaint while the Mariners could include their new signing, Jamaican international Wolry Wolfe.
Key: Losing their home ground advantage could prove decisive for the Coast in what looms as a tight contest.
Tip: Perth
SATURDAY
GOLD COAST UNITED v SYDNEY FC at Skilled Park, 5.30pm
Head to head: First meeting
TAB Sportsbet: Gold Coast $2.30, Draw $3.30, Sydney FC $2.85
Easily the most anticipated match of the A-League season so far. First vs second, the former glamour club vs the new glamour club, outspoken coach Miron Bleiberg against the softly-spoken Czech tactician Vitezslav Lavicka – whichever way you look at it, this is a true blockbuster. While newcomers Gold Coast have been earning rave reviews with their attacking brand of football, they were brought back to earth by a shock loss to Newcastle last week. That allowed Sydney, who have been quietly plodding along, to seize the competition lead by beating Wellington 2-0 at home. While they may not have been as pretty as United, Sydney have shown a new steely resolve this year and will be out to starve their opposition of possession. Socceroos duty has robbed the match of its star player, Gold Coast captain Jason Culina, but there is still plenty of quality left to fight it out.
Key: In Gold Coast’s Shane Smeltz and Sydney’s John Aloisi, the sides have the two form strikers of the season so far. Their finishing will have a huge say in the result.
Tip: Draw
NORTH QUEENSLAND FURY v BRISBANE ROAR at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7pm
Head to head: First meeting
TAB Sportsbet: North Queensland $3.30, Draw $3.40, Brisbane $2.10
The Fury have shown steady improvement since their horror 5-0 loss to Gold Coast in round two, but they are quickly learning their are no easy weeks in the A-League. Here they come up against a Brisbane Roar side that looks to be hitting its straps and finally notched its first win against Central Coast last week. For both coaches the focus is likely to be on defence. The Fury have already let in 12 goals in four matches, while the Roar have been patchy at the back themselves, leaking seven. The loss of midfielder Matt McKay to a knee injury is a big one for Brisbane, who are already without key central midfielder Massimo Murdocca, but they are hoping to welcome back exciting winger Michael Zullo from a hip injury.
Key: Fury strikers Robbie Fowler and Daniel McBreen showed glimpses of a promising partnership up front in last week’s draw with Adelaide. The pair will need to produce goals to have any hope against the Roar.
Tip: Draw
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