Western Sydney Wanderers vs Western United
20th December 0830hrs
Football – Australia – A League
Pick Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: Evens odds taken 2000 GMT, Thursday 19 December)
It’s been a pretty dire start to the season for both Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory so the two clubs will be desperate for points and looking at Friday’s game as a springboard to to some improved fortunes.
Western Sydney Wanderers Preview – Can the Wanderers get back to winning ways after a run of five straight defeats?
It’s been a disastrous run of form for Western Sydney since early November. Ironically, their first defeat of the season came against Western United and they have lost their next four to slide down the table. It’s been a swift change of fortunes for Markus Babbel’s men who had won three of their first four games and looking set for a strong campaign. Having disappointed in Babbel’s first season when failing to miss out on the playoffs, the Wanderers are under increased pressure to perform this time around. It means they come into this came having to get back to winning ways otherwise the season is in danger of slipping away already.
Wanderers have won two of their four home games with just one defeat. The biggest victory of the season thus far has been the win over rivals Sydney, also seeing off bottom of the table Central Coast Mariners. Melbourne City are the only visiting team to have won against them and that came courtesy of a goal in added time. The way the fixtures have fall has been slightly unfortunate in that they have played three difficult away games in a row, losing all three. The return to playing at home could well spark a revival in results.
Western United Preview – Will newcomers Western United continue their strong start to the campaign and make it three wins in a row?
Western United are competing in the A-League for the first time this season and will be happy with their performance thus far. Coached by Mark Rudan, United are currently in third spot behind champions Sydney and Melbourne City. They come into this game on the back of wins against Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar, both achieved by two goal margins. Considering those wins comes on the back of three straight defeats it indicates that there is plenty of resilience within the squad. Rudan knows there is plenty of tests ahead but there’s no doubt the playoffs appear to be a realistic objective which would be some achievement in their first campaign.
Key to Western United’s success so far has been the form of veteran striker Besart Berisha. The Kosovo striker has six goals in nine matches and showing the sort of scoring prowess which made him one of the best players in the league during his time with Victory. His best ever return is 21 back in 2016/17 and whilst that sort of tally may be beyond him now, he’s hit three goals in his last two matches including a double over his former club.
Key-Facts – Western Sydney Wanderers vs Western United
- Having won three of their first four, Western Sydney find themselves outside the playoff positions having lost five straight in the league
- Western United are showing no signs of greenness in their maiden A-League campaign, currently third in the table
- The teams met for the first ever time in a competitive match back in November when Western United ran out 2-1 winners at home
