Hyundai A-League Preview – 2011/12 – Week 19

Week 19 of the Hyundai A-League kicks off this Friday night and if we get anything like the action in week 18, we’re in for a treat!

Week 18 concluded on Monday night when Perth demolished bottom of the table Gold Coast United 4-0. Goals galore were also to be had in the Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets match with 5 put past the men in sky blue.

All up there were 16 goals in 5 games over the weekend, and this takes into account the 0-0 draw in the Melbourne Derby. Goals seem to be the order of the day lately and hopefully that continues as we head towards the finals!

On to this weeks preview, and we have 5 matches to get through. Check out the previews below and let us know your thoughts on our tips and our weekly Hyundai A-League multibet.

Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners – Hyundai A-League Preview
AAMI Park, Friday 10 February, 8.00pm

The Mariners head into this one on the back of a 2-0 loss to the Roar which ended their unbeaten run at 16 games. They will want to make amends for that and will come up against a Victory side that managed another draw over the weekend. The Victory have now had 10 draws in their 20 matches this season. A team can not expect to make the finals drawing 50% of their games.

In the Melbourne derby, the Victory were on the back foot for most of the first half, and then had to play the final 15 minutes with 10 men. Grant Brebner was sent off late and will miss this match to compound the Victory’s problems.

The Mariners still enjoy a 7 point gap at the top of the Hyundai A-League table, while the Victory sit at the other end in 8th place. Jim Magilton hasn’t really stamped his authority on this playing group yet and time is fast running out for the Victory to make the finals. I have a feeling that the Mariners will bounce back in this one and get themselves at least a draw, the Victory’s 11th of the season!

Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Heart – Hyundai A-League Preview
AusGrid Stadium, Saturday 11 February, 5.30pm

Newcastle are coming off the back of a 5-2 thrashing of Sydney FC at the weekend. A win they would have loved even more considering the past those two clubs have. Melbourne Heart could only manage a point against the Victory on the weekend despite dominating the first half.

That win for Newcastle moved them into the top 6 for the first time I can remember this season. They will have to continue this form though as the sides chasing only need a win to get back into contention for that finals spot. Melbourne Heart, despite the draw, are still sit in 5th place on the ladder. A win for them would see them extend the gap between 5th and 6th to at least 3 points. A win for Newcastle would see them overtake this weeks opponents and go up to 5th on the table.

Newcastle have been better away from home recently so they will want to give their home fans something to cheer about here. On recent form I think they will get that win here and move themselves up to 5th on the table.

Sydney FC v Perth Glory – Hyundai A-League Preview
Sydney Football Stadium, Saturday 11 February, 7.45pm

Sydney FC have plenty of changes coming and their recent form is going to make management’s job much easier. Last week’s 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Jets was embarrassing and you would have thought some sort of reaction was warranted. With Lavicka moving on next season, the players need to step up and give him a fitting farewell.

Perth are in ominous form at the moment, scoring 11 goals in their last 3 games. Their last match that didn’t yield all 3 points though was against Sydney FC at Campbelltown Stadium just a few weeks ago. They have moved themselves up to 4th on the table and just a couple of points behind the Phoenix in second spot.

I can’t see Sydney FC getting the 3 points in this one, however they have Emerton possibly returning and need to respond. I can see this one heading for another draw, matches between these two are usually tight.

Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar – Hyundai A-League Preview
Westpac Stadium, Sunday 12 February, 3.00pm

Wellington head into this round still in 2nd place on the table and a win could move them to within just 4 points of the Mariners. A couple of weeks ago this would have been unheard of. However, with the Mariners losing and having a game postponed we find ourselves in that situation. The Phoenix started the year slowly after making the finals last year but they now have the sort of form on the board that saw them get there last year.

The Roar got back to winning ways after their 1-0 loss to the Jets a fortnight ago. A 2-0 win over the Mariners keeping them in 3rd spot on the table and close enough to pounce should the Mariners falter. A win here for them will take them into second spot at the expense of the Phoenix. The Roar look a completely different side to the one that went on a run of 6 straight defeats. Thomas Broich is looking like he is returning to his best which is an ominous sign for the rest of the competition.

The Phoenix at home have been in form and with just the one draw at home this season we should see a result here. I’m going to go with a Phoenix win in this one. The Roar are very inconsistent and I feel that the Phoenix will have enough to get all 3 points at home.

Gold Coast United v Adelaide United – Hyundai A-League Preview
Skilled Park, Sunday 12 February, 5.30pm

The battle of the “cellar dwellars”. Not exactly the glamour tie to finish off week 19 of the Hyundai A-League however it’s these sort of matches that can surprise people. Gold Coast were atrocious against the Glory on Monday night and now sit 5 points clear at the bottom of the table. Adelaide still have a slim chance of making the finals as they sit on 20 points, 5 points outside the top 6.

Adelaide went down 2-1 at home to the Phoenix last Friday night, they’re without a win since early January. A win here will at least give them breathing spacce from the bottom of the table, with that gap stretching to at least 7 points. Gold Coast have struggled all season and their odds of earning themselves the dreaded wooden spoon are falling by the week.

The last time these two sides met, Gold Coast United scored a 3-0 victory. I don’t think they will get that result again here but I think they might be able to squeeze at least a point out of Adelaide at home.

Hyundai A-League Preview – sportsbanter.com.au Tips:

Victory v Mariners – #HALmvccm – Draw
Jets v Heart - #HALjetsmh – Jets
Sydney FC v Perth – #HALsydpg – Draw
Phoenix v Roar – #HALwpbri – Phoenix
GC United v Adelaide – #HALgcuau – Draw

Hyundai A-League Preview – Banter’s Best Bets

Victory v Mariners – Mariners +0.5 @ $1.44
Jets v Heart – Total Game Score Over +2.5 @ $1.88
Sydney FC v Perth – Draw @ $3.35
Phoenix v Roar – Total Game Score Over +2.5 @ $1.77
GC United v Adelaide – Total Game Score Under +2.5 @ $1.83

Multibet Odds – $29.38