A-LEAGUE TIPS – ROUND 21

Let’s take a look at Matchweek 21 of the A-League.

Save for the Friday night cracker between Central Coast Mariners and Brisbane Roar (where Matt Simon disgraced himself), last week was a fairly lackluster round of Australia’s top tier soccer competition. However, that promises to be quickly forgotten with Matchweek 21 promising to be an important group of games for a whole host of reasons, especially the first three games beginning on Friday night which pits six of the top seven teams against each other.

Best Bet	Sydney FC to WIN ($2.12)
Circuit Bet	Wellington to WIN ($2.02)
Circuit Bet	Melbourne Victory WIN ($2.10)

Best Bet

Sydney FC (LWLDW) ($2.12) v Adelaide United (WWDLW) ($3.20)

Sydney’s swagger … is it back?

After a few off weeks The Wolf is willing to declare that everyone should be back on the Sky Blues. A win against the Wellington Phoenix will do that, given they’ve been so impressive with not a lot of luck thus far in the campaign. A few weeks ago it looked a real possibility that Adelaide could skip Sydney FC into third position, and that Steve Corica’s side could have fallen out of touch with the top two. Well, as it stands, and thanks to a slightly spluttering Melbourne Victory, Sydney are back into second. Sure, Alex Brosque dived to get Sydney the penalty which eventually got them Adam Le Fondre’s winning goal, but that’s the kind of performance (and luck) we have seen the Sky Blues enjoy season after season. It just feels like things will fall their way again, and given Adelaide were uninspiring against a weary Newcastle for a 0-0 result last week, this won will be a Sydney win.

Recommended Bet: Sydney FC to WIN ($2.12)

Central Coast Mariners (LLLDL) ($3.35) v Wellington Phoenix (WLDDL) ($2.02)

Mariners the worst team ever?

It’s a very fair question. Since the start of the 2014/15 season the Central Coast Mariners have won 19 of 128 league matches. That’s a winning ratio of just below 15 per cent. That is horrendous, and it speaks to a club with endemic, systematic issues that quite frankly have no end in sight. Wellington, to be honest, were only recently looking as grim, albeit with a much better recent win percentage than that of the Mariners. So they’re proof fortunes can change. But they won’t change here. Central Coast captain Matt Simon disgraced himself in being sent off last week and to be honest it might do the Mariners some good to play without such a raging volcano as their leader. What it won’t do is make enough of a difference to help them win. Wellington have only won one match in their past five and this encounter is the perfect way to find form again.

Recommended Bet: Wellington to WIN ($2.02)

Melbourne Victory (WWLDD) ($2.10) v Newcastle Jets ($3.15) (LWDWL)

Jets to let go of their grip

The Jets have been grimly hanging onto hope of a finals spot for weeks. As it stands, they are five points out of the top six with Wellington Phoenix ahead of them. Losing here doesn’t make it impossible for them to qualify for the final but it will make it hard, and unfortunately losing it what’s going to happen. You see, you can’t keep a team like the Victory down for too long. They’ll be smarting due to the fact they’ve dropped from second to third and they’ll be encouraged by their draw in the Melbourne Derby. They managed to come from behind and draw 1-1 while down to 10 men, that is superb. With a tough run of Asian Champions League games coming up three points here is vital. Expect Keisuke Honda and Ola Toivonen to start and star.

Recommended Bet: Melbourne Victory WIN ($2.10)

Multi

Sydney FC v Adelaide United (Sydney FC to WIN) ($2.12), Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix (Wellington to WIN) ($2.02), Melbourne Victory v Newcastle Jets (Melbourne WIN) ($2.10) = $8.99

More A-League Tips

MATCH/TIME (AEST)	Selections
Sydney FC ($2.12) v Adelaide United ($3.20) Leichhardt Oval, 01/03/2019, 7:50pm AEDT	Both teams to score NO ($2.10)
Melbourne Victory ($2.10), Newcastle Jets ($3.15) Simmonds Stadium, 02/03/2019, 7:50pm	Both teams to score YES ($1.58)
Melbourne City ($2.84) v Perth Glory ($2.40) AAMI Park, 03/03/2019, 5pm	Total goals OVER 2.5 ($1.64)
Brisbane Roar ($2.60) v Western Sydney Wanderers ($2.36) Suncorp Stadium, 08/03/2019, 7:50pm	DRAW ($3.60)
Central Coast Mariners ($3.35) v Wellington Phoenix ($2.02) Bluetongue Stadium, 09/03/2019, 7:50pm	Match handicap: Wellington -1.5 ($3.65)