Melbourne City Vs Central Coast Mariners
Melbourne City Vs Central Coast Mariners Monday 22nd March 2021 – 08:05 (BT Sport)
Australian A-League
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at the time of writing: 20th March 2021)
Preview: Action from Australia now as the surprise early A-League frontrunners Central Coast Mariners visit AAMI Park on Monday, which is home to a Melbourne City side in blistering hot form seeking a fifth successive victory.
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Table of Contents
Melbourne City – Fifth consecutive win incoming?
Beaten in the Grand Final by Sydney FC in 2019-20. This after an excellent regular season that seen them finish in second place – an improvement of three positions and seven points from the previous campaign. It was therefore something of a surprise that Melbourne City (W6 D0 L4) initially made a sluggish start to the new A-League season, accruing a meagre tally of six points through their first six encounters (W2 L4).
However, since losing four of their first half-dozen fixtures, Patrick Kisnorbo’s side has been nothing short of inspired. His team also stand to benefit from eight days recuperation, last seen on 12 March when building on recent wins over Sydney FC (3-2), Western Sydney (0-2) and a hammering of crosstown rivals Melbourne Victory (0-6) by making it four on the spin, here at AAMI Park, against Macarthur FC (3-0).
Central Coast Mariners – Early leaders to consolidate top spot?
From bottom to top. The Central Coast Mariners (W8 D1 L3) are a team completely transformed for this season compared to last. In 2019/20, the Mariners registered the lowest number of wins and points as they finished in stone last, putting up easily the worst figures in attack as well as defensively. So to see them setting the early pace is testament to the work coach Alen Stajcic and his players have put in thus far.
Last season’s bottom side boast a three point cushion atop the A-League at the time of writing, which was admittedly late on Friday, and prior to four weekend fixtures. Perth Glory are the only team to have found the net more regularly than the 22 in 12 games of the Central Coast, who are bidding to score two or more for the eighth successive game while also preserving the league’s best away record (W4 L1).
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Melbourne City Vs Central Coast Mariners Betting Advice
Historically Melbourne City invariably come out on top when these clubs meet. This has been the case in ten of their fourteen A-League encounters prior to this season. That imperious record didn’t seem under threat on 3 February either, when Patrick Kisnorbo’s men established an early 2-0 lead before Central Coast Mariners completed a remarkable comeback ten minutes from time to clinch it 3-2.
Melbourne City Vs Central Coast Mariners – Key Facts:
- Prior to a 3-2 victory on 3 February of this year, Central Coast Mariners had managed one win in their previous fourteen attempts (D3 L10) when facing Melbourne City.
- Each of the past four meetings produced four or more goals, averaging out at five per game, while both teams scored in five of the last six.
- Hosts Melbourne City are targeting a fourth A-League win on the bounce, against a Central Coast side with one loss in the last seven (W5 D1) in the competition.
With the advantage that comes with playing at their AAMI Park, where they have failed to win only once in four A-League outings so far, and with confidence clearly high following four straight wins, Melbourne City will fancy their chances of restoring normal order in this fixture. There is a strong likelihood of goals, too, with both sides seeing three of their past four matches go Over 2.5 Goals.
Best Betting Odds – Melbourne City Vs Central Coast Mariners
Melbourne City – 3/4 (Betway)
Draw – 3/1 (BetFred)
Central Coast Mariners – 18/5 (BetVictor)
