The Roar’s A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 5

Not a strong tipping performance by most experts or the crowd last week. Personally, it could have been a ripping week, backing Wellington, Central Coast and Newcastle with all three being within a whisker of victory.

A crucial round this week, extending over four days, with much at stake for a few teams looking to get their season moving in the right direction.

Mike Tuckerman
Sydney, draw, draw, Brisbane, Western Sydney

It was back to reality last week in what was a difficult round to tip, and it doesn’t look like Round 5 will be any easier to predict.

For the first time in a while, the match of the round is on Friday night, and the question remains whether Melbourne City are genuine contenders or just the latest incarnation of last season’s pretenders?

If anyone looks like beating Sydney FC, it’s the fellow team in sky blue, but I’m tipping the visitors to prove their own championship credentials and come away from AAMI Park with all three points.

The Saturday afternoon showdown between the Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix is likely to finish all square in the Hunter, while Perth Glory and Adelaide United could also share the spoils in the west, with the Glory struggling to get into gear so far this season.

Brisbane Roar will have too much class for Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday afternoon, while Western Sydney Wanderers will look to make the most of Melbourne Victory’s malaise in the holiday fixture on Monday night, with the Wanderers set to claim all three points at Etihad Stadium with a new coach at the helm.

Daniel Jeffrey
City, Newcastle, Perth, Brisbane, Draw

We start this week with the match of the round, one I think Melbourne City will get the better of. Their defence this year has been much improved on last season (as Tim Palmer elaborated on yesterday) while Sydney haven’t been able to recreate their 2016-17 form…yet. City in a tight one.

Newcastle should be too good for Wellington, particularly with home-ground advantage on their side, and Perth were unlucky against Sydney last week. At home, I’ll back the Glory to get the job done over Adelaide.

(AAP Image/Joe Castro)

Brisbane finally got themselves a point last week, and this time around I’ll tip them to grab their first win of the year. They’re at home against a pretty weak Mariners side – there are no excuses for John Aloisi if his team doesn’t pick up the three points here.

Much as I want to tip the Victory at home, I can’t bring myself to do it this week. They’ve been in a serious funk all year, and the absence of Besart Berisha isn’t going to help them against a Wanderers side which has performed well under caretaker coach Hayden Foxe.

That said, Western Sydney currently seem incapable of doing anything but drawing matches, so I’ll tip this one to finish all-square.

Alan Kearney
Sydney, Draw, Perth, Central Coast, Victory

What a mouth-watering clash on Friday night! Both teams have started the season in good form especially Melbourne City who made it four wins on the bounce to be the only side with a 100% record. Ross McCormack scored another sensational free kick against Adelaide and Sydney will need to keep an eye on the in-form Scotsman. 

Sydney will be approaching this game with confidence, the form of Milos Ninkovic should have the Sydney faithful walking into this one like Conor McGregor. The Silky playmaker has had a brilliant start to the season, demonstrating his technical qualities once more last week against Perth.

(AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)

This will be the biggest test so far for both sides and it’s a hard one to predict, but I think Sydney will go top with a win. 

Bibs, balls, cones, boots, teacups, oranges, Surely that was the order in which the Wellington gaffer proceeded to kick around the dressing room after his sides catastrophic collapse after giving up a 3 nil lead last week!

Gone are the days of a punishing running session (Sports Science Department wouldn’t agree) after such a result but I am sure it would have been a tense week in Wellington, it will be interesting to see how they react.

Newcastle, on the other hand, will be happy with their second-half performance after staying in the sheds for the first half, they battled back to claim a draw against WSW. I feel this one will be a draw, a big response from Wellington and Newcastle to still suffer from a Vargas hangover.

Perth will be hoping to get back to winning ways at home to Adelaide. They had a controversial evening last time out against Sydney and if it wasn’t for Andrew Redmayne’s save in injury time they could well have snatched a draw. 

The loss of some key players last week hurt the Reds against City and it may also cost them this week on their travels.

I think Perth will get back to winning ways here this week but what I will be keeping an eye on will be Kenny Lowe’s reaction if we get another VAR incident. #earmuffsforthe4thofficalpls

I can imagine that both camps will be feeling happy this week especially after both teams second-half performances last weekend. Brisbane fought back to get a draw against the Nix while Central Coast really should have put Victory to the sword in Gosford.

Central Coast played some good football and looked really dangerous in the last 20 minutes. If they can find a cutting edge and be more clinical in front of goal I can see them climbing the ladder pretty quickly. I am going for a Mariners win this week after a tight encounter up in Brisbane.

Kevin Muscat is under a bit of pressure and could do with getting that monkey off his back. A win would most definitely turn the mood for Victory and their supporters. It won’t be any easier this week as they welcome Western Sydney who looked very good in the opening half against Newcastle last week.

Japanese import Jumpei Kusukami looks like a hell of a player and Victory will need to be on guard to keep him at bay. No Besart Berisha again this week and that will be concerning for Victory fans as they looked short of ideas at times last week against the Mariners. 

It’s been a very slow start for Victory but I am backing them to come out on top at home.

Stuart Thomas
Draw, Newcastle, Draw, Central Coast, Western Sydney

Friday night sees a clash between one and two on the ladder and it could be a belter. It will be the acid test for Melbourne City and Sydney will look to reaffirm their dominance of last season.

However, this is a revitalised City team and they will score and hold the sky blues to a gripping draw.

I cannot jump off the Jets bandwagon after their excellent comeback against the Wanderers last week. There is just too much to like about their play and spirit. Wellington somehow contrived to throw away two points against Brisbane and looked astonishingly good in the first twenty. The Jets in a close contest.

(AAP Image/Darren Pateman) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Perth Glory and Adelaide United both come off losses and will both be desperate for points. Perth are always better at home yet Adelaide are playing with a new vigour. There should be goals in this one and a high scoring draw seems the likely result.

Brisbane Roar will take something from their stirring comeback against the Phoenix yet will need to improve in many areas to knock off the Mariners, who continue to impress despite not being able to chalk up a victory. If the Central Coast defend well, they will finally break their drought on Sunday. Mariners to win.

The clash of the week sees the Wanderers look to travel to Melbourne and continue the winless streak of the Victory which many thought would snap last week. The Victory need a spark and without a certain striker to get them over the line on Monday, they may struggle. This is a tough call yet form says the Wanderers and that is the way I will go.