We’re now into the twenties and the A-League is quickly winding towards the finals once again.
Two in-form sides in the Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory will meet in the match of the round on Saturday, while it could be ugly viewing on Sunday afternoon when Sydney FC play the Central Coast Mariners.
Friday’s action takes us across the ditch and betting suggests that we are set to witness a comfortable win for the Wellington Phoenix over Western United.
The Phoenix remain a legitimate top four side and their claims only strengthened with a lovely win over the second-placed Melbourne City last week.
They have been leapfrogged by Adelaide United, but remain tied on points with the Reds and a win here would almost certainly see them back into the four.
Western United’s slim run of form continued last weekend, this time in the form of a loss to the travelling Brisbane Roar. They’ve slipped to seventh on the ladder, more than a win shy of sixth.
Western United haven’t scored for a couple of weeks now and it’s tough imagining them causing too many headaches for the home side.
The in-form Adelaide United will face an out of form Wanderers at Western Sydney on Friday night and represent terrific value to win.
Adelaide’s poor run of form through Christmas is well and truly behind them, and they have won four of their last five matches. A loss to the in-form Roar two weeks back was atoned for with an easy win over the lowly Mariners last Friday.
Western Sydney have failed to make much of an impression on the league this season and enter this match off the back of a draw with the out of form Jets. This is a big step up in class for them and other than playing at home, which really hasn’t been an advantage for them this campaign.
I can’t figure out why they have been priced as favourites.
The match of the round will almost certainly materialise in Redcliffe on Saturday afternoon, when the Roar host the ever-dangerous Perth Glory.
It is fair to say that matches between these two clubs have been a great watch since the Roar beat the Glory under contentious circumstances in the 2012 final and again, we’ll be treated to two in-form sides going toe-to-toe this week.
The Roar proved too good for Western United on the road last week and will take plenty of confidence into this. The Glory meanwhile will enter fresh from a week off and prior to that, a comfortable win over the Phoenix at home.
There is value around both sides in head to head betting, but I think that when push comes to shove, the Glory’s overall class with prevail.
Neither the Jets nor Victory have been particularly eye-catching this season, but that will probably mean that we’ll be treated to a good contest when they meet in the Hunter on Saturday night.
The Jets actually enter this match in probably their best form of the season, having beaten the Mariners two back before drawing with the Wanderers away from home. They deserve their slight favouritism, but I just don’t think that we can trust them to take points three weeks in row.
The Victory meanwhile are winless in their five most recent league matches but had a week off in Round 19 and won an Asian Champions League match since losing the Melbourne Derby. Both sides look a chance of winning, but I’m happy to take the value on offer for the Victory, who have an excellent record against the Jets.
We’re faced with a mismatch on Sunday afternoon when competition leaders Sydney FC head up the highway to face the last-placed Mariners.
It’s been another campaign to forget for the Mariners, who have simply failed to account for their opponents each week, despite often playing some exciting football.
Sydney are a class above most, if not every other club again this season and it is simply impossible to tip against them. They are probably still over the odds to win this at $1.65, but there’s better value to be found the deeper we dig.