Western United have the chance to continue their brilliant patch of form when hosting Central Coast Mariners at Ironbark Fields on Wednesday night.
John Aloisi’s side have been on fire since Round 8. Having won just one of their first six games (three draws, three losses), Western have since won six of seven and come into Wednesday’s game with the chance to jump both Melbourne City and Macarthur Bulls into third spot on the Isuzu UTE A-League table.
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Since Round 8, Western have picked up the most points (18) of any team in the Isuzu UTE A-League, having picked up 18 of their 24 points for the season along the seven-game stretch.
Isuzu UTE A-League table since start of Round 8
Pos. | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GD | Pts |
1 | Western Utd | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 18 |
2 | Macarthur | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 16 |
3 | Adelaide Utd | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 14 |
4 | Sydney FC | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
5 | Auckland FC | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
6 | Melbourne City | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 |
7 | Western Sydney | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 11 |
8 | Central Coast | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | -6 | 9 |
9 | Newcastle Jets | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
10 | Wellington Phoenix | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -5 | 8 |
11 | Perth Glory | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -10 | 7 |
12 | Melbourne Victory | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -3 | 6 |
13 | Brisbane Roar | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -5 | 4 |
Much of Western’s success up to this point of the season comes down to their ability to come back from behind.
Aloisi’s side has rescued 14 points from losing points this season – an equal-league high with Adelaide United. But while Adelaide have dropped 11 points from winning positions, Western have dropped just three points after taking the lead in games this season.
On current form, Western will be confident in ending the club’s seven-game winless run against the Mariners. Western won three of the first five meetings between the two sides but haven’t defeated Central Coast since April 2021, suffering six defeats and one draw since.
The Mainers, meanwhile, continue to fluctuate between ninth and 10th place on the Isuzu UTE A-League table on an inconsistent run of form.
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Central Coast have won two consecutive games just once this season as they struggle to rise to the challenge of a championship defence; Mark Jackson’s side haven’t been higher than ninth on the Isuzu UTE A-League table since the end of Round 7 but can jump up to eighth, level with seventh-placed Sydney FC and one point behind Melbourne Victory in sixth, with a win over Western United on the road.
Mariners coach Jackson has included Trent Sainsbury in his extended squad for Wednesday’s trip to Tarneit after the Socceroos centre-back missed Saturday’s draw with Wellington.
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Team news: Western United v Central Coast Mariners
Western United squad: 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7. Ramy NAJJARINE, 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10. Matthew GRIMALDI, 13. Tate RUSSELL, 14. Jake NAJDOVSKI, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Noah BOTIC, 20. Abel WALATEE, 22. Kane VIDMAR, 23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 24. Michael RUHS, 30. Dylan LEONARD, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matthew SUTTON (gk), 34. James YORK, 37. Luke VICKERY, 44. Jordan LAUTON, 70. Michael VONJA (gk), 77. Riku DANZAKI
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 14. Jake NAJDOVSKI, 34. James YORK, 70. Michael VONJA (promoted)
Outs: 1. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (departed)
Unavailable: 4. James DONACHIE (injured), 21. Sebastian PASQUALI (injured), 29. Charbel SHAMOON (injured), 43. Khoder KADDOUR (injured)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1 Adam PAVLESIC, Brian KALTAK, 4. Trent SAINSBURY, 7. Christian THEOHAROUS, 9. Alou KUOL, 10. Mikael DOKA, 11. Vitor FEIJAO, 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Harry STEELE, 21. Abdul FAISAL, 24. Diesel HERRINGTON, 27. Sasha KUZEVSKI, 33. Nathan PAULL, 35. Arthur DE LIMA, 36. Haine EAMES, 39. Logan SAMBROOK, 40. Dylan PERAIC-CULLEN, 43. Michael PARAGALLI, 44. Lucas SCICLUNA, 99. Ryan EDMONDSON
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 4. Trent SAINSBURY, 39. Logan SAMBROOK
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil