In the lead up to round seven of the Hyundai A-League 2013/14 season we run our thumb over some peculiarities pertaining to the weekend’s fixtures.
In the lead up to round seven of the Hyundai A-League 2013/14 season we run our thumb over some peculiarities pertaining to the weekend’s fixtures.
Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers
22 November 7.00PM Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane Roar have lost their previous four A-League fixtures against the Wanderers, scoring just once in the process (including playoffs).
Roar-s Matt Smith and Luke Brattan have both completed 339 passes this season – only Melbourne Victory-s Leigh Broxham can match that figure.
Striker Mark Bridge has scored against Brisbane in both Western Sydney Wanderers fixtures at Suncorp Stadium.
This match sees the team with the highest average possession (Brisbane Roar 60.3%) take on the team with the lowest (Western Sydney Wanderers 43.2%).
Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix
23 November 5.30PM Allianz Stadium
After losing their previous five meetings with Wellington Phoenix (including playoffs), Sydney have won their last two.
Alessandro Del Piero scored four times in this fixture last season in January, as Sydney thrashed the Nix 7-1. Three of these goals came in the first half.
Wellington Phoenix-s Carlos Hernandez has created 20 chances in the A-League this season, more than any other player.
There has been just one draw between these two sides in their previous 20 A-League meetings – a 1-1 draw back in November 2007.
Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
23 November 6.30pm nib Stadium
Perth Glory have won just two of their last ten meetings with the Mariners, including playoffs (D2 L6).
Perth Glory have kept three clean sheets this term – a joint-league-high.
Central Coast have scored in all but one of their last nine regular season games with Perth, though four of their last five wins against Glory have been by a single goal.
The Mariners have picked up just seven yellow cards this season, an A-League low.
Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United
23 November 7.45pm Etihad Stadium
Melbourne Victory have won only one of their last nine clashes with Adelaide United (D3 L5).
A-League top scorer James Troisi has found the net five times in his last five appearances for Victory.
Adelaide have scored in each of their last 10 A-League games with Victory, but have kept just two clean sheets and are the only A-League side yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
United have won just one of their last 14 away games at Melbourne Victory in the A-League (D3 L10).
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Heart
24 November 5.00pm Hunter Stadium
The Jets have won their last three home games against the Heart, scoring eight and conceding twice in the process.
Mark Birighitti has made the most saves of any goalkeeper in the A-League this season (24).
Melbourne Heart have failed to score in five of their six A-League matches so far, including each of the last four (D2 L4).
Heart have left Newcastle victorious just once in their last five trips, beating the Jets 2-0 in October 2010 (D1 L3).
