Rebirth: Week 13 A-League Preview | Thebigtip

In the space of a week, we’ve had two monumental streaks broken – the Victory snapping Adelaide’s unbeaten streak in a classic, and Brisbane wiping the floor with Wellington’s home ground record. They were both great matches in their own way; Melbourne-Adelaide in the traditional sense, and Brisbane-Wellington simply for the way the Roar made the Phoenix look like clueless teenagers playing their first game ever.

North Queensland v Central Coast

Date: Friday 5th November
Time: 8:30pm EDT
Location: Dairy Farmers Stadium

Betfair Odds
North Queensland: $2.82
Draw: $3.35
Central Coast: $2.72

Changes

North Queensland
In: Adam Casey (promoted), Panagiotis Nikas (promoted), Brett Studman (promoted), Isaka Cernak (returns from injury), Jason Spagnuolo (promoted)
Out: Eric Akoto (knee – 6 weeks)
Unavailable: Matthew Ham (knee – out for the season)

Central Coast
In: John Hutchinson (returns from suspension)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Nik Mrdja (back – indefinite), Brad Porter (knee – 12 weeks), Jess Vanstrattan (knee – season)

The last time these two sides met, North Queensland were actually able to drag not only a watchable game, but an entertaining game out of Central Coast. That was at Bluetongue where the Mariners won 3-2, so you would think that at Dairy Farmers, the likelihood of another cracker is high.

There’s one major inclusion for each side, with Melbourne Victory bound Isaka Cernak back for the Fury, and Hutchinson back for the Mariners. Both players can have a major impact on their respective teams in an attacking sense, so with a bit of luck the duo won’t be too rusty and can light up the game. If I had to pick who has the potential to make the bigger impact on the game, the choice would be obvious.

For all their entertaining play over the season so far, it’s about time for the Fury to convert it into results. Akoto can push as many people as he wants, Hughes can make his regular seven goalline clearances a match and Williams can skin the whole defensive line, but when the end results aren’t points, it’s useless. This is their crunch match, and where their season has to start. Cernak back will help if he is thrust into a more attacking role alongside Payne and Williams. That trio can strike fear into any defence, and it will trouble the Mariners defence (and any other team for that matter) for pace.

Even though Central Coast aren’t near the top of many people’s lists when it comes to entertaining teams, they just keep on getting the job done. Their defence has been very solid, and with the numbers they throw behind the ball, opposition teams generally haven’t found a way behind it. My one worry is what they will do if the Fury manage to find a way to unlock the defence. The Mariners haven’t needed a Plan B so far, so it is clutching at straws a little bit, but I get the feeling that they don’t have one up their sleeve.

Because the game is up in Townsville, goals are guaranteed. I can see a similar scoreline to their last outing, but with one less goal to the Mariners, making this one a high scoring draw.

Tip: Draw (2-2)

Melbourne Victory v Gold Coast

Date: Saturday 6th November
Time: 7:00pm EDT
Location: Etihad Stadium

Betfair Odds
Victory: $2.34
Draw: $3.40
Gold Coast: $3.40