Adelaide United v Central CoastNewcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar
Sydney FC v North Queensland
Perth Glory v Gold Coast United
In Round 5, Gold Coast reclaimed a stranglehold on the A-League with a 2-1 top of the table clash victory against Sydney FC. Tipped finals contenders, Adelaide United, continued their struggles this season with a 1-1 draw at improving Wellington whereas Melbourne Victory suffered a similar fate against surprise packet, Newcastle Jets. North Queensland remain winless after 5 rounds but will look to upset the applecart this week against glamour side, Sydney FC.
Friday, 11 September
Adelaide United v Central Coast
Verdict: Two of the lowest scoring teams in the A-League do battle here. Both teams have found the net at an average of one time per game. Adelaide's patient approach has served them well in the past but it seems like they are now becoming too predictable. On the other hand, Central Coast is a workman-like side that rely on stamina and strength to win their games. Central Coast's main attacking weapon, Matt Simon, seems to be carrying an injury since the start of the season. Adelaide's main striker, Cristiano, is yet to find the scoresheet this season which doesn't bode well for the home side, although they are strengthened by the return of captain Dodd, and wing-back Casio. Both teams have been involved in low-scoring games so far this season and I'll be surprised if they buck the trend here.
Picks:
Adelaide United -0.25 AH @ 1.95 (ibcbet, 6 units)
Adelaide United 1 - 0 Central Coast
Under 2.5 goals @ 1.98 (ibcbet, 3 units)
Adelaide United 1 - 0 Central Coast
Saturday, 12 September
Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar
Preview: Newcastle's young guns are riding a crest of a wave at the moment with two fine results in their most recent meetings, whereas Brisbane are plodding along like a wounded animal. Newcastle's fine 1-0 win against title favourites Gold Coast United and their creditable 1-1 draw at last year's Champions, Melbourne Victory, sees the home side in good form. Brisbane are not flying by any stretch of the imagination but they can still acclaim to have been defeated only once this season, and are undefeated in their last four. A late equalizer against North Queensland in Round 5 gave them a share of the spoils against the league's bottom club.
Verdict: The Jets are favoured and rightly so due to their better form. Brisbane have flattered to deceive so far this season but they do have experienced heads and should eventually get their season back on track. Atleast the visitors have their Brazilian striker, Reinaldo, back fit and scoring after his brace against North Queensland. Brisbane still lack the running power of McKay and Murdocca in midfield but I feel, strangely enough, that it is a good time for them to be playing Newcastle. Complacency and over confidence is sometimes a young team's biggest chink in their armour and I think this will play in the visitors favour today.
Pick: Brisbane Roar +0.25 AH @1.89 (ibcbet, 5 units)
Newcastle 0 - 3 Brisbane Roar
Sydney FC v North Queensland
Preview: Second against last do battle here as Sydney look to bounce back after their 2-1 loss to league leaders, Gold Coast. North Queensland's improved performances in recent weeks have only yielded two points after draws against Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar. North Queensland can consider themselves a little unfortunate as they led in both those games, only to let the points slip late. Sydney recall the services of Musialik as a possible replacement for the injured Terry McFlynn, while North Queensland lose midfielder Paul Kohler through suspension.
Verdict: Both these teams have ofcoarse met already this season, in Round 1, with Sydney running out 3-2 victors on that occassion. Both teams, especially North Queensland, have improved since then and the visitors will be looking to upset a Sydney FC side who put in their worst performance of the season last week. North Queensland are still searching for their first win of the season and the way the Northerners are improving, it's a matter of sooner rather than later.
Side note: No team in the A-League, in my opinion, is good enough to give away a +1.25 goal handicap to the opposition. Sydney are definitely favourites but surely not with this handicap.
Pick: North Queensland +1.25 AH @ 1.97 (ibcbet, 8 units)
Sydney FC 0 - 1 North Queensland
Sunday, 13 September
Perth Glory v Gold Coast United
Preview: Perth will look to put their keeper's horror show behind them today as they face high flying Gold Coast United. Glory keeper, Tando Velaphi, costed his side a share of the spoils at Central Coast last week, after first misreading the bounce of the ball and then slipping over to condemn his side to a 2-1 defeat. Gold Coast were impressive in their top of the table clash with Sydney FC, Shane Smeltz against scoring a brace in a 2-1 win. Good news for the visitors is that captain Jason Culina returns from international duty, as done Shane Smeltz after his exertions in Jordan. Front man, Joel Porter, msses out through injury. The home side are likely to miss on the services of Sikora and Neville.
Verdict: Perth have only tasted two defeats in their last 12 competitive home fixtures so there's no doubting that Gold Coast will have a real game on their hands. There's a big question mark on how striker Shane Smeltz will recover from his flight back from the Middle-East after arriving back on Thursday morning but it is thought that he should be fine. Gold Coast are by far and away the league's top goalscorers, finding the net 12 times in five matches whereas Perth have found the net in all their games bar one. With this in mind and Perth's impressive scoring form at home (four goals in two), the OVER is tempting here. I expect Perth's young keeper, Velaphi, to be on tender hooks too so even more reason to think that this pick will prevail.
Pick: Over 2.25 goals @1.88 (ibcbet, 7 units)
Perth Glory 2 - 2 Gold Coast United
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