Confused by Melbourne City’s form in the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season?
It appears there is a simple formula that determines if City will win or not in the current campaign.
And history also suggests that both Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory – flying high after strong starts – should have an extra layer of confidence going into Round 7’s fixtures.
INJURY NEWS: Adelaide striker has operation on troublesome knee
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Mariners happy to hit the road
Still searching for their first Hyundai A-League win of the 2018/19 Season, the Central Coast Mariners will be looking forward to returning to Spotless Stadium.
The Mariners have an unbeaten record at the venue, winning one and drawing two of the three contests they have played there.
And that is a good sign at a difficult time for the bottom-placed Mariners, who have gone more than a year since they last won on their travels.
Central Coast’s last away win in New South Wales came at Spotless Stadium also, a 2-0 success in February 2017.
To repeat the dose they will need to stop Oriol Riera, though.
The Wanderers frontman has hit 35 shots this season, nine more than any other player in the competition, and he also has the most shots on target with 13.
Just three goals have followed but the statistics indicate Riera is due for a day out soon.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners, Friday 7.50pm (AEST)
Sarpreet’s shot frustration
While he may have caught the eye with a series of impressive Hyundai A-League performances, Wellington Phoenix teen Sarpreet Singh is struggling in front of goal.
The 19-year-old has had 12 shots on goal this season – the most of any player yet to score.
While his shot conversion rate is at zero, Sydney FC’s Adam Le Fondre’s sits at 32% – the best of any player in the competition to have had at least 10 shot attempts.
Le Fondre has bagged six goals in as many Hyundai A-League matches this season, form that sees him on top of the scoring charts.
Sydney FC are unbeaten in their last six against Wellington, last losing a game to the New Zealand-based side in March 2016.
Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix, Saturday 5.35pm (AEDT)
United up against in Melbourne
Melbourne Victory have many reasons to be confident against Adelaide United, with a four-match winning streak highlighted by a stylish brand of football just one of them.
The Hyundai A-League heavyweights have also lost just two of their last 16 against Adelaide, winning nine and drawing five.
It is an imposing record and shows how Victory have continually been able to get the job done – home and away – against their original rivals.
United did win the last fixture between the two sides at Marvel Stadium though, claiming a 2-1 success.
And in their two Hyundai A-League away fixtures this season, United have scored six goals and won both.
A tougher task awaits against the Keisuke Honda-led Victory.
Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United, Saturday 7.50pm (AEDT)
The key to a City win
Melbourne City’s chances in Perth seem to hinge on whether they can score in the first half.
In the three matches that Warren Joyce’s side have done that in the 2018/19 Season, they have been victorious.
But when they have been held goalless to half-time, the club’s record stands at a far less imposing one draw and two defeats.
Winning at nib Stadium in Luke Brattan’s 150th Hyundai A-League game will not be easy for City, who have won just one of their last 10 at the venue.
The table-topping Glory have been inspired by Chris Ikonomidis this season, who has been directly involved in six goals already, with four of his own and two assists. Only Honda (seven) has been directly involved in more.
Perth Glory v Melbourne City, Saturday 10pm (AEDT)
Jets out to end first-half blues
In all of their last six matches on home soil at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle Jets have failed to score in the first half.
And the club’s slow starts are hurting them, winning just one of those six contests, drawing one and losing four.
But Ernie Merrick will be buoyant that that run is about to end, given the Roar’s slow starts themselves – and Brisbane’s defensive woes on their travels.
In the Roar’s last seven away trips, they have conceded at least two goals on every occasion.
Can the Jets get an early goal in Thomas Kristensen’s 50th Roar match and start well?
Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar, Sunday 5pm (AEDT)
