A-LEAGUE TIPS – ROUND 20

Last week was the round of the upset. Western Sydney Wanderers defied all wisdom to beat Adelaide United away and Melbourne City lost away to a Newcastle Jets side with a packed schedule due to the Asian Champions League. The Central Coast Mariners, who have been abysmal for almost every season in recent memory, also drew with Sydney FC. Who said the fact it isn’t first past the post in the A-League makes the tail-end of seasons boring to watch?

Best Bet	Melbourne Victory to WIN ($2.15)
Circuit Bet	Jets v Adelaide: DRAW ($3.35)
Circuit Bet	Perth Glory to WIN ($1.90)

Best Bet

Melbourne Victory (DWWLD) ($2.15) v Melbourne City (WLLDL) ($2.90)

Could Victory end coach Joyce’s reign? 

Melbourne City were absolutely terrible against the Newcastle Jets, there’s no two ways about it. They controlled possession, but like they’ve done all year played far too slowly and lacked the required forward drive to pressure their hosts. This has been a complaint throughout Warren Joyce’s reign as coach and it’s being reported a poor showing or a loss in the Melbourne Derby could see him sacked. So, of course, City will respond. But it feels as though Victory will rise to this challenge. They were superb last week without Ola Toivonen and 90 minutes of Keisuke Honda to get a draw away to Wellington Phoenix. Toivonen is in the frame to return this week, so Victory will be too good. Kosta Barbarouses, the pacy Kiwi winger, will be licking his lips having seen how City were exposed by speed on the counter attack last week.

Recommended Bet: Melbourne Victory to WIN ($2.15)

Newcastle Jets (WLWDW) ($2.66) v Adelaide United (DWWDL) ($2.42)

It’ll all catch up with the Jets

Newcastle were superb in beating Melbourne City given they’d played a mid-week Asian Champions League game at home. They had another this week, but had to go all the way to Japan to play it, where they lost to Kashima Antlers. It’ll be a fair effort for them to back up and home against Adelaide after all that international travel, but they’re on a roll at the moment – despite the ACL loss to highly regarded opponents they played well – and will be fighting for every point to make sure they play finals. They’re now six points adrift of a post-season spot. As for Adelaide, they squandered a golden opportunity to stay in touch with the top three by losing to Brisbane Roar, Craig Goodwin’s shock penalty miss symptomatic of the fact it just wasn’t their night. They’ll be better this week, a job made easier by the Jets travel, but Ernie Merric’s side will dig in at home for a draw.

Recommended Bet: DRAW ($3.35)

Western Sydney Wanderers (LDLWW) ($3.40) v Perth Glory ($1.90) (DWWWW)

WSW’s run is going to end

Two wins on the trot is pretty good for a team, like the Wanderers, that’s under pressure. Especially with the last one an upset. But they aren’t going to cause two upsets in a row, especially against Perth Glory, who are in imperious touch and look like the runaway favorite to win the minor-premiership given they’re nine points clear of Melbourne Victory in second. A lot is going right for the Glory, who’ve recruited so well (Neil Kilkenny and Chris Ikonimidis have been stand outs this season) while those who’ve hung around the club for a few years like Andy Keogh and Diego Castro have caused the opposition all sorts of problems. Juande in midfield has been an underrated player for the Glory this year two, and he’s made Kilkenny look a better player a lot of the time. Tony Popovic has worked wonders with the Glory, and it’s all going to play in the west.

Recommended Bet: Perth Glory to WIN ($1.90)

Multi

Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City (Victory WIN) ($2.15), Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United DRAW ($3.35), WSW v Perth Glory (Perth WIN) ($1.90) = $13.68

More A-League Tips

MATCH/TIME (AEST)	Selections
Central Coast Mariners ($2.38) v Brisbane Roar ($2.66) Bluetongue Stadium, 22/02/2019, 7:50pm AEDT	Brisbane Roar to WIN ($2.66)
Wellington Phoenix ($3.35) v Sydney FC ($2.03) Westpac Stadium, 23/02/2019, 5:35pm	DRAW ($3.55)
Melbourne Victory ($2.15) v Melbourne City ($2.90) Marvel Stadium, 23/02/2019, 7:50pm	Total goals OVER 2.5 ($1.82)
Newcastle Jets ($2.66) v Adelaide United ($2.42) Hunter Stadium, 24/02/2019, 5pm	Both teams to score YES ($1.58)
Western Sydney Wanderers ($3.40) v Perth Glory ($1.90) Spotless Stadium, 24/02/2019, 7pm	Match handicap: Perth Glory -1.5 ($3.35)