The wounds may still be healing from that Round 3 loss at Bankwest Stadium but Sydney FC can take heart that only two of the past 17 Sydney Derbies has fallen in Western Sydney Wanderers’ favour.
Since that stunning upset back in October, Steve Corica’s side have strung together an astonishingly consistent 13-match unbeaten run, which includes 12 wins and one draw, and the runaway Hyundai A-League leaders have not conceded a goal in since January 10.
The Sky Blues are unbeaten in their past eight home matches against the Red and Black, wining five, but Friday’s clash is unique in that it will be the first to be played at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, a venue where the Champions are unbeaten in 13 encounters.
Sydney FC usually hit the ground running, and have scored a competition-high 18 goals within the first half hour of games, so Jean-Paul de Marigny’s side will need to have their wits about them early on.
Adam Le Fondre is likely to be the man for the Red and Black defence to watch. Le Fondre has 13 goals in his last 13 games, although the English marksman has only scored once against Western Sydney – his lowest total goal tally against any Hyundai A-League side.
Wanderers hopes lie with captain Mitchell Duke. Their star striker grabbed the winner the last time these bitter rivals met and Duke has gone on to rack up nine goals this campaign, his career-best goalscoring return in a single season.
FRIDAY PREVIEW: Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers
HOW TO WATCH: Every Hyundai A-League match in Round 21
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A dozen Hunter trips without defeat for Glory
History dictates that McDonald Jones Stadium is a happy hunting ground for Hyundai A-League Premiers Perth Glory.
After making the long journey from Western Australia, Glory are undefeated in their last 12 trips to the Hunter, winning seven, and they have conceded fewer than a goal per game on average in that time (0.8).
Tony Popovic’s side are travelling well generally, having not lost on their last five away days and they have conceded only once on those five road trips. Newcastle Jets tend to start well on home soil. They have led at half-time six times in their last 10 matches as hosts, but have only gone on to win two of them.
The Jets have not lost in four games, but head coach Carl Robinson will need to raise their levels even higher to inflict Glory’s first defeat in 11 matches and claim his maiden Hyundai A-League win in the hot seat.
MATCH PREVIEW: Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6134920462001
Victory aim to break Original Rivalry hoodoo
Adelaide United have taken Original Rivalry bragging rights on the last four occasions, their longest ever winning run in the fixture, but they have some way to go to match Victory best winning streak of 10.
A bigger issue for Carlos Salvachua’s side is the six-match winless stretch they are currently enduring as the Spanish coach searches for his first Hyundai A-League win in the big chair.
The last time the Navy Blue hit a longer winless stretch was 13 yeas ago, eight matches on the spin, so only a reverse in the Original Rivalry form book would stop Salvachua’s team from taking a step closer to that unwanted record.
Victory attacker Marco Rojas played his first 90 minutes in last week’s 1-1 draw with the Newcastle Jets and the ‘Kiwi Messi’ is set to make his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Amazingly, Gertjan Verbeek’s Reds are yet to draw in the 2019/20 season – winning nine and losing nine of their 18 matches.
MATCH PREVIEW: Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6124257088001
Western United seek long-awaited goal
Mark Rudan’s Western United have gone three straight games without scoring a goal and have only recorded four shots on target during that spell, so the visit of the competition’s leakiest defence is timely.
Alen Stajcic’s Central Coast Mariners have conceded 37 goals in 18 matches this season, an average of 2.1 per game, although they did keep their only clean sheet of the season in a 1-0 win against Western United at Central Coast Stadium in Round 7.
The Green and Black can take confidence about a return to GMHBA Stadium, where they have won on their last two outings, the last one being a 3-0 win against Central Coast in Round 15.
Away wins are in short supply for the Mariners. The Yellow and Navy have won only two of their last 33 attempts away from Gosford, losing 26 of those games. Stajcic’s side have lost their last seven matches on the spin and it has been almost six years since they last took three points in the state of Victoria.
MATCH PREVIEW: Western United v Central Coast Mariners
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6124705528001
Goal frenzy on the cards at AAMI Park?
Sixteen goals have been scored as Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar split their last three games with one win each and a draw.
But the odds tip in City’s favour when you consider Erick Mombaerts’ troops are undefeated in their last four home matches at AAMI Park and they have not conceded a first-half goal in that time.
Another piece of history working against the Queenslanders is the 13 matches against City at AAMI Park since their last, and first ever, win in November 2010.
But Robbie Fowler’s side have won as many times in their last four away games, (three) as they had won in 24 matches on the road previously, and the Roar have hit top form recently, having lost only once in their past nine Hyundai A-League matches.
MATCH PREVIEW: Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6132919601001