A-League Preview: Central Coast Mariners vs Newcastle Jets, key stats, line-ups, odds, prediction

Matt Simon of Central Coast Mariners against Newcastle Jets | Photo Credit: IMAGO

Central Coast Mariners host Newcastle Jets in the 24th round of the A-League regular season.

Stadium: Central Coast (Gosford)

Key Statistics

Central Coast who are currently at third spot in A-League table, have won two of their last three games

The home team have failed to keep a clean sheet in their previous five home games.

Newcastle Jets who are currently at 12th spot in A-League table, are without a win in their last 14 games

They last kept a clean sheet in their one-nil win over Melbourne Victory in February.

Central Coast Mariners

Central Coast Mariners will look to move a step closer to a third-place finish in the A-League standings when they welcome Newcastle Jets to Gosford.

The home team began the campaign impressively and would have hoped to still be in first place at this stage of the season. But they now have to battle for a spot in the top three, having already qualified for the final series following their win over Macarthur FC and Wellington Phoenix’s draw with Perth Glory.

Two wins from their last three games put a stop to a poor run of form that saw them go six games without a win in April and early May.

Their aim now is to finish as high up the table as possible, and a struggling Jets team presents the best potential opponent for Alen Stajcic’s side.

Possible line-ups

Mark Birighitti; Jack Clisby, Kye Rowles, Ruon Tongyik, Stefan Nigro; Gianni Stensness, Josh Nisbet, Oliver Bozanic, Daniel De Silva; Marco Ureña, Matt Simon.

Newcastle Jets

Bottom placed Jets are on the brink of finishing the A-League season in the bottom spot if they cannot improve from the poor run of form. They have lost in eleven games out of their last 14 games.

Craig Dean’s side, who have played 23 times this season by now, need at least four points from their final three matches to have a chance of moving off the bottom spot before the end of the season. They will hope they can get the first of those points when they travel to the Central Region.

Although they have been unable to win any of their last 14 games, they might at least take courage in the fact that their fellow strugglers Melbourne Victory scored six past Western United in their previous outing. Their most recent performance against Brisbane Roar will also serve as a source of encouragement as they pegged back their Roar before succumbing to a 2-1 late in the game.

The Jets have an excellent head-to-head record against their hosts, winning five of their last ten games (D2, L3).

Possible line-ups

Jack Duncan; John Koutroumbis, Nigel Boogaard, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Lachlan Jackson, Matthew Millar; Jordan O’Doherty, Stirgate, Lucas Mauragis, Jason Hoffman, O’Donovan, Ali Abbas.