A-LEAGUE ROUND 13 PREVIEW

Are injuries about to derail the Melbourne Victory’s dominant run in the A-League?

With superstar Keisuke Honda, Nick Ansell and import Georg Niedermeier on the sidelines, Kevin Muscat’s men lost their first game since Matchday 2 and despite doing little wrong this season are now 6 points behind the Perth Glory.

The Wolf takes a look at all the action from Matchday 13 of the A-League.

Multi: Sydney FC/Wellington Phoenix/Perth Glory ($5.01)

MATCH/TIME (AEST)	A-LEAGUE BEST BETS
MELBOURNE CITY v BRISBANE ROAR AAMI STADIUM FRI 11 JAN 0750PM	Melbourne City ($1.62) Both teams to score ($1.70) Anytime goalscorer – Adam Taggart ($2.88)
WELLINGTON PHOENIX v CENTRAL COAST MARINERS WESTPAC STADIUM SAT 12 JAN 0535PM	Wellington Phoenix ($1.56)
MELBOURNE VICTORY v NEWCASTLE JETS AAMI STADIUM SAT 12 JAN 0750PM	Melbourne Victory ($1.95) Anytime goalscorer – Ola Toivonen ($2.30)
SYDNEY FC v ADELAIDE UNITED JUBILEE OVAL SUN 13 JAN 0600PM	Sydney FC ($1.89)
PERTH GLORY v WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS NIB STADIUM SUN 13 JAN 0800PM	Perth Glory ($1.70)

MELBOURNE CITY (LWDWW) ($1.62) v BRISBANE ROAR (LLLDL) ($5.30)

Can the City defence stop Brisbane’s roar in attack?

Melbourne City have been very good defensively this season, conceding the least goals in the A-League and 2 or more goals just twice in their 11 games. The Wolf’s concern is that the Roar are a high scoring, defensive mess that have seen 22 goals scored in their last 5 matches This included a 2-4 loss to the Victory, 4-1 loss to the Phoenix and 2-4 loss to the Glory.

This is the first round this season that the Wolf has seen such narrow favourites in the A-League for all of the games. Every single favourite is under $2 which is irregular for traditionally such a close competition.

The Roar have plenty of creativity in attack with Adam Taggart in great form, scoring twice against the Glory last weekend. They have also scored in their last 5 games against good opposition.

The Wolf thinks that both teams will score although City should be too strong at AAMI Stadium.  

BEST BETS: Melbourne City ($1.63), Both teams to score ($1.70), Anytime goalscorer – Adam Taggart ($2.88)

MELBOURNE VICTORY (WDDWL) ($1.95) v NEWCASTLE JETS (LWLDL) ($3.65)

Victory ‘got what they deserve’ against the Reds

The Victory used a 0-1 win over the Jets earlier in the season to kick off a run that has seen them climb to second position on the A-League table. The key to defeating the Victory as Adelaide United did on Wednesday night (2-0) is to start the game with energy, urgency and purpose. Marko Kurz used a very high press which was also effective when the Victory played Sydney FC early in the season (although Melbourne did eventually win that game).

Kevin Muscat explained that the Victory were tired and that he thought a loss would be around the corner after the game against Adelaide. There is still plenty of quality in the Victory side, even with the injuries to key players. The Jets have conceded twice in each of their last 3 games with Ernie Merrick’s suffering a grand final hangover of epic proportions with 3 wins from their 12 games.

The Wolf thinks that the Victory will bounce back at home.

BEST BETS: Melbourne Victory ($1.95), Anytime goalscorer – Ola Toivonen ($2.30)