Central Coast Mariners are looking for their fourth win in their last five games when they take on Adelaide United at the Central Coast Stadium in the A-League on Saturday.
The home side are faring well in the league up to this point, sitting in third place, but their opponents have also made a strong start and would overtake them if they secured a second win on the spin.
Match preview
Central Coast Mariners are so far doing slightly better than they did in their 2021-22 A-League campaign, in which they finished fifth, and they could move into the all-important top two with a win on Saturday.
Home form has been vital for the Yellow & Navy, collecting 12 of their 16 total points on their own turf, and they currently have the best record at home in the league, although this is helped by the fact they have contested seven of their 10 matches at the Central Coast Stadium.
Nick Montgomery's side are also the division's top scorers, averaging two goals a game by scoring 10 goals up to this point, only failing to find the back of the net in one match, their most recent away trip to Melbourne City.
However, they did just enough to beat the rivals of their opponents that day last time out, with Jason Cummings scoring twice to secure a 2-1 victory at home to Melbourne Victory to keep them firmly in the hunt for second place.
The Mariners have won their last three matches at home against Adelaide United, running out resounding 3-0 winners last season, and they would be more than happy with a repeat of that scoreline on Saturday.
Adelaide only lost one of their opening seven A-League games, but defeats have now started to become more of a common occurrence, losing two of their last three matches, one of which was their first home loss of the season, against Newcastle Jets.
While an away trip to the Mariners is tough enough on paper regardless, it will be made tougher by the fact that the Reds are yet to click on the road, winning just one of their opening six games on their travels.
Carl Veart's side have undoubtedly made a decent start to the season, but it must be pointed out that all four of their wins up to this point have been against struggling sides, who occupy the bottom three in the A-League table.
Last time out, Adelaide secured their second win of the season against bottom-of-the-table Perth Glory, winning 2-0 at Coopers Stadium, having already ran out 2-1 victors at the same venue earlier in the campaign.
The Reds have only faced one side in the current top five so far this term, losing away against Macarthur FC back in October, and so Saturday's game will be an opportunity for Veart to gauge how his side fare against one of the division's better teams.
Team News
After the brace in his last match, Jason Cummings is the second-highest scorer in the league, while he also has three assists, so the 27-year-old is a sure-fire starter in the Yellow & Navy's attack.
18-year-old starlet Garang Kuol made a very impressive start to the season, but he has now joined Newcastle United, so Marco Tulio is the most likely partner for Cummings.
Winger Craig Goodwin has been Adelaide United's key man this term, weighing in with four goals and four assists in the A-League, with Ben Halloran likely to play on the opposite side after scoring last time out.
Striker Hiroshi Ibusuki has not scored in his last four appearances, so youth product Asad Kasumovic could be in line to make his first start for the Reds.
Central Coast Mariners possible starting lineup:
Vukovic; Roux, Triantis, Kaltak, Farrell; Nkololo, Nisbet, Steele, Kuol; Tulio, Cummings
Adelaide United possible starting lineup:
Gauci; Madanha, Barr, Popovic, Kitto; Sanchez, Prados, Halloran, Clough, Goodwin; Kasumovic
We say: Central Coast Mariners 2-0 Adelaide United
Recent history indicates that Central Coast Mariners are the likely victors on Saturday, with the Yellow & Navy winning their last three home matches against the visitors.
Not only that, but Adelaide United have struggled when they have played the better teams in the division so far this season, and the hosts are definitely in that category.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Dominic Lund
