A-League Round 4 Preview

Melbourne City v Adelaide United

AAMI Stadium, Melbourne

Friday, October 31

6.40 PM (AEST)

With the sun quickly setting on David Villa’s brief A-League sojourn ‘Down Under’, City fans will be extra keen to see the Spanish star deliver his adopted club their first win of the season. The task is ahead of City as the Reds have exploded out of the blocks from the very first whistle. They play an entertaining and attacking brand of football and have now firmed into favourites ($2.40) to win the inaugural FFA Cup title. This should be a highly charged match to kick off the weekend’s fixtures, but I just can’t go past Josep Gombau’s men from getting the three points.

Pick: Adelaide United (Draw No Bet)

Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets 
nib Stadium, Perth

Saturday, November 1

6.30 PM (AEST)

This is a tough match to predict given that both teams are coming off disappointing away losses last round. The Glory appeared flat at Coopers Stadium and will relish the return home to nib Stadium. I was expecting a better showing from the Jets against Wellington last Sunday, and feel the long travel burden will prove too much to turn around their poor form against a strong attacking Glory outfit. Progressing to the FFA Cup semi-finals in a thrilling extra time win over the Victory mid-week will now put plenty of ‘Fremantle Doctor’ wind into the Glory’s sails. The Glory’s Andy Keogh recorded a hat trick against the Roar two weeks ago and backed it up with a mid-week brace in the FFA Cup. He will again be hard to go past in the first goal scorer market.

Pick: Perth Glory (H2H)   

Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners

Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Sunday, November 2

4 PM (AEST)

This game sees the master versus the apprentice as the two former colleagues in Graham Arnold and Phil Moss line up on opposite ends of the technical area. Arnold’s tactics against the Roar were to the letter and this game will be no different. Sydney’s defensive structures of the past are on the improve, which gives a rise in confidence to the attack up front with Alex Brosque in startling form. With all the money coming for Sydney FC, the goal margin (SYD by 2+ Goals) market might deliver a little more value. Brosque is a nice option (To Score a goal) given his current form.

Pick: Sydney FC (Goal Margin 2+ Goals)

Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix

AAMI Park, Melbourne

Monday, November 3
6.30 PM  (AEST)

The Victory, together with Adelaide Utd and Sydney FC, are the only teams still undefeated in the A-League at the end of three rounds. After travelling across to Perth for their mid-week FFA quarter final defeat, Victory take on a Phoenix side on Melbourne Cup Eve still smarting from an impressive 4-1 defeat over a sluggish Jets outfit. The Phoenix sit in unfamiliar territory on the ladder (4th) and will be eyeing off an injury ravaged Victory side with Berisha, Delpierre, Thompson all in doubt for Monday night’s match. To add to Kevin Muscat's woes, Adrian Liejer and Daniel Georgievski are suspended. The Phoenix have proven on their day they can knock off more fancied teams, and will still have last season’s shock 5-0 triumph to give them hope of an upset.

Pick: Wellington Phoenix (Draw No Bet) is excellent value in a multi given the potential number of quality outs for the Victory.

 Al Hilal v Western Sydney Wanderers

King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh

Sunday, November 2

3.30 AM (AEST)

It doesn’t get much bigger than this for the Western Sydney Wanderers. After a massive first leg result, they now hold the advantage, but more importantly, no away goals were conceded by their ever-reliable veteran keeper Ante Covic. The second leg will be a different proposition with the crowd, heat and distinct lack of travelling support on hand, shifting favoritism back toward their Saudi opponents. The Wanderers have proven all throughout the campaign they can shut out teams, and despite the huge task ahead, I think the 'Sydney westies' can sneak home against the giant Al Hilal “Blue Wave “on the back of the away goal rule.

 Pick: Wanderers (Double Chance) Western Sydney/Draw

I’ll be on The TattsBet Brekky show @tattsbetbrekky every Friday and Monday morning around 7:45am AEST over the course of the entire @Aleague season with my previews and reviews of every game.

James ‘Hamez’ Clark

@cleansheetoz

 Link to online article at TattsBet.com: