A-League Week 12 Preview

A-League Week 12 Preview

The schedule is pretty sporadic owing to Christmas, but we are set for a full compliment of matches in Week 12 of the A-League.

The action is underway in Brisbane on Thursday night when the Roar attempt to return to winning form against Perth Glory, while the final match of the round will not be contested until Tuesday.

Brisbane Roar vs Perth Glory

Brisbane Roar have failed to make much, if anything of an impression this season and they will be tested by the Perth Glory on Thursday evening.

In season’s gone by, this fixture would have been a relatively straightforward one for the Roar, but they’ve only found winning form in two of their eleven games this season last weekend’s performance against the Victory was pretty lacklustre across the board.

The Glory returned to winning form in Week 11, albeit at home and against the bottom-placed Phoenix. The last time the Glory travelled, they beat Melbourne City 3-1 and there is nothing to say that they cannot repeat that performance and result against a worse opposition, at great odds here.

Tip: Back Perth Glory to win @ $3.25

Newcastle United Jets vs Western Sydney Wanderers

The red-hot Jets are gunning for three-consecutive wins when they host the Wanderers in Newcastle on Friday night.

The season’s surprise packet produced another impressive performance to beat a handy Adelaide United outfit 2-1 last weekend and they remain second overall; one of only a couple of teams that look like they could worry Sydney FC this season.

The Wanderers have been pretty inconsistent, but they returned to the winner’s circle with a convincing performance away to the Mariners last week and will view this match as an opportunity to build a positive run of form, against a quality opponent.

The Jets are over the odds almost every week and at a current $2.25 quote, they are our best bet in Week 12 of the A-League.

Tip: Back the Jets to win @ $2.25

Wellington Phoenix vs Sydney FC

Last hosts first in what is clearly the biggest mismatch of Week 12 of the A-League.

Wellington’s poor run of form continued in the nation’s west last weekend and they are anchored to the bottom of the table, having won only once in ten attempts this season.

It has been the complete opposite for defending champions Sydney FC, who have experienced nothing of a premiership hangover. They have lost only once in eleven matches this campaign and followed-up a 5-0 demolition of the Wanderers with an easy 3-1 win over Melbourne City most recently.

Sydney are simply over the odds at a current $1.60 quote and they represent terrific value as a fold in a multi-bet this weekend.

Tip: Back Sydney to beat the handicap (-1) @ $1.95

Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne Derby has quickly ingrained itself as one of the A-League’s most exciting fixtures and we are set for another edition of the heated rivalry on Saturday night.

The Victory’s slow start to the season appears to be behind them and they secured a pretty easy 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar away from home on Sunday evening. That score line was pretty flattering for the Roar and the Victory never appeared in doubt – all but controlling the game following early goals from Rhys Williams and Kosta Barbarouses.

City’s form has been a little shaky in recent weeks and they will be seeking a return to winning form here after being comfortably played off the park by Sydney FC most recently.

Previous form rarely comes into calculation in the bigger A-League derbies and it is extremely difficult to split these two teams in ability currently regardless.

Tip: Back the draw @ $3.50

Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners

There is no A-League action on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but Week 12 will draw to a close on Tuesday evening when Adelaide United and the Central Coast Mariners square-off.

Given previously performances and the form of both teams this season, this will probably be the most well-contested match of the round and both will be eager to return to winning form after losing at their most-recent fixtures.

The Mariners’ recent form has probably been a little more shaky than that of Adelaide and given that this match is set to be played in front of the Reds’ home crowd, they should prove extremely difficult to beat.

Tip: Back Adelaide to win @ $1.90