Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne Victory preview, tips and teams – 2014 A-League Round 18

The first game on Saturday for A-League Round 18 is between Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory. The opening kick-off is set to commence at 5.30pm AEDT with the game to be played at Bluetongue Stadium. The favourite for the match is home team Central Coast Mariners. View our preview and teams for the game between Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory.

Round: Round 18, Saturday, February 8 at 5.30pm AEDT.
Stadium: Bluetongue Stadium
Head to head: Played 26 – Wins: Mariners 9, Victory 9, Draws: 8
Previous encounter: Mariners 0 – 0 Victory, November 29, 2013

Central Coast Mariners $1.95 vs Melbourne Victory $3.80 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Central Coast Mariners $1.97 vs Melbourne Victory $3.60 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison:

Central Coast Mariners 1.95 1.97 1.97 1.97 1.95 2.00
Draw 3.50 3.65 3.40 3.65 3.50 3.40
Melbourne Victory 3.80 3.50 3.60 3.50 3.80 3.60

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Teams:

Central Coast Mariners Squad:Central Coast FC Logo
1.Justin PASFIELD (Gk), 3.Joshua ROSE, 4.Marcel SEIP, 5.Zachary ANDERSON, 7.John HUTCHINSON (C), 9.Mitchell DUKE, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 12.Liam REDDY (Gk), 15.Storm ROUX, 17.Anthony CACERES, 19.Matt SIMON, 20.Bernie IBINI, 21.Mile STERJOVSKI, 22.Tom SLATER, 25.Eddy BOSNAR, 26.Kim SEUNG-YONG, 27.Isaka CERNAK, 29.Matt SIM
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 25.Eddy BOSNAR (pending ITC), 26.Kim SEUNG-YONG (pending ITC), 27.Isaka CERNAK (new signing), 29.Matt SIM (new signing)
Outs: 6.Brent GRIFFITHS (groin – 1 week), 8.Nick MONTGOMERY (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: 6.Brent GRIFFITHS (groin – 1 week), 8.Nick MONTGOMERY (suspended – 1 week), 10.Marcos FLORES (knee – season), 14.Michael MCGLINCHEY (on loan – Vegalta Sendai) 18.Michael NEILL (knee – season), 23.Adam KWASNIK (knee – season)

 

Melbourne Victory Squad:Melbourne Victory.svg
1.Nathan COE (gk), 2.Pablo CONTRERAS, 3.Adama TRAORE, 4.Nick ANSELL, 5. Mark MILLIGAN (c), 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Gui FINKLER, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 11.Connor PAIN, 13.Andrew NABBOUT, 14.James TROISI, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Tom ROGIC, 22.Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 23. Adrian LEIJER, 24.Scott GALLOWAY, 25.Jason GERIA,
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 23. Adrian LEIJER (returns from suspension), 5. Mark MILLIGAN (returns from injury)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil

Preview:

Form:

Past five matches

Mariners: LWWDD

Victory: DLLWD

The Game:

In these two sides’ previous encounter this season, Melbourne Victory were unlucky to miss out on three points in Gosford with Mitch Nichols having a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside, while the Big V wasted a number of gilt-edged opportunities throughout the 90 minutes.

Since then, Victory have managed just three more wins in the A-League and have lost four times, while Central Coast have won five times and lost three games to move above Melbourne on the ladder despite having played one less match.

While Melbourne head coach Kevin Muscat will have been happy to see his team end their run of 5-0 defeats with a 1-1 draw away to Perth Glory last week, the Big V need to return to winning ways quickly, or they could fall further down the table.

Victory have 24 points, just two more than fifth-placed Sydney FC, while Adelaide United and Perth (both 21) are also ready to pounce.

For Central Coast – the busiest A-League club – in the January transfer window, it is hard to know what team will turn out on Saturday afternoon.

Eddy Bosnar, Kim Seung-Yong, Isaka Cernak, Glen Trifiro and Matt Sim have all joined in the past fortnight as the Mariners also look ahead to their AFC Asian Champions League (ACL) campaign.

At least the first two will likely play a part versus Victory after the Mariners lost 2-1 to Brisbane last week.

The big issue:

Mariners – Central Coast have long been considered a functional but not flashy side.

The past two seasons seemed to mark a slight change in the club’s philosophy as Tom Rogic and Michael McGlinchey added an ability to break open opposition defences with guile rather than just determination and physical superiority.

But with McGlinchey on loan at Vegalta Sendai and Marcos Flores (knee) out for the rest of the season, Phil Moss’ team seem bereft of creativity. Anthony Caceres played in the hole versus Brisbane but the Mariners need more.

Can Kim provide the spark in midfield Central Coast so desperately need?

Victory – Can Melbourne find a way to win in Gosford? Earlier in the season, Victory deserved to win but – apart from Nichols’ ruled out goal – failed to do enough to claim three points.

The scoreless draw made it five games without a win at Bluetongue Stadium for the Big V.

Kevin Muscat could surely have thought of better places to travel to this week as his team continues to stutter at a critical time of the season.

Victory’s hopes of winning may rest on Rogic’s shoulders as the Mariners old boy returns to his former home.

The game breaker:

Tom Rogic – If the visitors are to avoid defeat on Saturday, they will have to score goals. Victory have kept just one clean sheet in their past 10 matches.

The more Melbourne control the ball, the less work their struggling back four will have to deal with, and Rogic will be critical both in keeping possession but also turning that into scoring opportunities.

Source: www. footballaustralia.com.au

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