The Roar’s A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 4.
What a week from Mike Tuckerman who emulated Daniel Jeffrey’s first round with a perfect five from five.
Potentially a more difficult week looms, with some extremely tricky games to read and a couple of teams desperate for a first victory.
Here’s how the experts see it.
Mike Tuckerman
Sydney, Draw, Draw, Western Sydney, Victory
I tipped the round last week, so by the law of averages I’ll probably go none from five this time around.
Sydney FC are always tough to beat on their home turf, although there should probably be questions raised about why they’re playing a third home game in a row. Nevertheless they’ll likely be strong enough to see off Perth Glory in front of what is likely to be a modest Friday night crowd at Allianz Stadium.
Wellington Phoenix and Brisbane Roar are both desperate for a first win of the season, but they’re likely to finish all square at Westpac Stadium. Perhaps the biggest clash of the round sees Adelaide United face off against table-toppers Melbourne City at Coopers Stadium.
Will the Reds midweek FFA Cup exploits leave them feeling the pinch? I’m tipping a draw in this one as well.
The Newcastle Jets have enjoyed a superb start to the campaign, but the loss of Ronny Vargas in midfield will hit them hard, and the Wanderers could nick all three points in front of a parochial crowd in the Hunter.
The final game of the round sees Central Coast host Melbourne Victory, with the visitors likely to collect their first win of the campaign in Gosford.
Daniel Jeffrey
Sydney, Wellington, City, Draw, Victory
Sydney no longer seem to have an air of invincibility about them, but Perth were far from convincing in their win over the Mariners last week. With home ground advantage, the Sky Blues can’t be overlooked, although they need to sort out their slow starts.
Every week I keep expecting the Roar to find their groove and pick up their first win of the season, and every week they’ve let me down. Tipping the Phoenix will almost certainly see Brisbane get off the mark, but Wellington were unlucky to come away without a point from their trip to Melbourne and should go into this one as favourites.
(AAP Image/Craig Golding)
Adelaide will be buoyed by their midweek FFA Cup success, but that will also lead to a bit of fatigue against the table-topping Melbourne City. I’ll take the visitors to grab their fourth win of the season.
In the other meeting of two undefeated sides this weekend, I’m going to sit myself firmly on the fence. Newcastle have been the most improved team of the year by some distance, but the loss of Ronald Vargas is a major blow. The Wanderers are away from home after a midweek FFA Cup loss, but they’re good enough to get a point here (and maybe even more).
As for the final match of the round, the Victory are bound to finally get their first win of the season, right? Right!?
Stuart Thomas
Sydney, Wellington, Draw, Newcastle, Central Coast
The round starts with an interesting home game for Sydney, as they face the Glory who did well to claw back against the Mariners last week. They showed something, but not enough to beat Sydney FC at home.
There will be a sense of desperation for both teams when the Roar take on Wellington in New Zealand. In a tough one to pick, I am tipping another poor week for the Roar against a Phoenix side that has looked good at times.
Melbourne City are flying high and Adelaide will be feeling similar emotions after the FFA Cup Semi-Final win. In what could be a tight tussle, a draw appears the most likely outcome.
Newcastle will get the job done against a somewhat fatigued Wanderers outfit coming into their third game in eight days. The Jets suffered a major blow last week, however with Roy O’Donovan and Andrew Nabbout working in tandem, they have enough firepower to continue their good form.
The final match of the week sees the Central Coast do battle with Melbourne Victory. I know many think their streak will end and Melbourne will chalk up a win, however, I fear it won’t be this week. There are too many good things happening on the Coast and with a home crowd behind them, they can get the job done late Sunday.
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
Alan Kearney
Sydney, Wellington, City, Draw, Victory
Perth had a good win last week against the Central Coast and scored some cracking goals through their front duo Keogh and Taggart however Sydney will prove to be a far bigger task than the Mariners.
Sydney is coming off the back of a tough derby against the WSW but I expect them to get back to winning ways at home.
Wellington will feel bitterly disappointed not to have got something from last week’s game against Melbourne City. The Phoenix played some good stuff and looked very comfortable in possession but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Brisbane had a difficult week on and off the pitch and I feel their luck won’t change when they visit New Zealand this weekend. I fancy Wellington to get the three points on their home patch.
Adelaide played out an entertaining draw with Victory last weekend and welcomes another Melbourne team to South Australia for Round 4. City will be happy with Ross McCormack getting off the mark last weekend and will be looking to continue their impressive start to the new campaign.
While they weren’t at their best last weekend they still managed to pick up the three points and that is always a good sign. City Win.
Newcastle continued their impressive start last week with a good win away to Brisbane. Roy O’Donovan is leading the goal scoring charts with five in his first three games. WSW played out an entertaining draw in the derby against Sydney but will be looking to pick up three points on the road in this one.
I feel this will be a very tight affair and I can’t split the two teams so I am going to sit on the fence and predict a draw.
Central Coast will be the whipping boys again this year. While they knock the ball around well at times I don’t feel they have the players to get consistent results in the A league and this week will be another familiar feeling for their fans. Victory will be desperate to pick up their first win and I can see them getting it on the Coast this weekend.
| Round 4 | Mike | Stuart | Daniel | Alan | Vasant | The Crowd |
| SYD vs PER | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD | TBC | SYD |
| WEL vs BRI | DRAW | WEL | WEL | WEL | TBC | WEL |
| ADE vs MCY | DRAW | DRAW | MCY | MCY | TBC | DRAW |
| NEW vs WSW | WSW | NEW | DRAW | DRAW | TBC | NEW |
| CCM vs MVC | MVC | CCM | MVC | MVC | TBC | MVC |
| Last week | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Previous Total | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| New Total | 10 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
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