Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners Predictions

• Adelaide United have won three of their last five games at home.
• Central Coast Mariners have won just once away from home and haven’t picked up an away point since November.
• Adelaide United have averaged 1.75 goals per game so far this season.
• Central Coast have conceded two goals per game this campaign.

Can Adelaide United return to winning ways?

Adelaide United saw their good run of form come to an end last weekend when they were toppled 2-1 by Brisbane Roar. Prior to that, they had won three in a row, lifting them to fifth in the table and giving them a small buffer over the sides below them. That loss has opened up the race for the top six, however, and Adelaide will need to bounce back straight away to maintain their place in the final series placings.

Adelaide have averaged 1.75 goals per game over the course of the season but, in more recent weeks, this has risen slightly to 1.8 goals per game. The side always look as though they have goals in the team but equally they look susceptible to conceding, with an average of 1.68 goals being conceded by United this season. Their attacking output is great but if the goals dry up they could be in trouble when it comes to finishing in the top six.

Central Coast are in a rut

Central Coast Mariners have endured a poor season, compounded by their 4-3 loss to bottom-club Newcastle Jets last weekend. That result means they have now lost four in a row and are only kept from the bottom of the table by virtue of conceding two less goals than The Jets. Results haven’t gone their way this term and they’ll need to pick up points soon if they hope to avoid picking up the wooden spoon.

The Mariners haven’t scored enough this campaign, with an average of just 1.06 goals per game so far; their defensive record is also the second-worst in the league having conceded 32 goals in 16 games. Finals series football looks out of reach now but the battle to avoid bottom spot is still red hot, with both Newcastle and Melbourne Victory keen to avoid the indignity of finishing 11th.

Who wins the battle at Coopers Stadium?

It’s hard to envisage Central Coast getting anything from this game, with The Mariners picking up just three points away from home this season and losing their last six on the road. Adelaide are still scoring at an unsustainable rate but we don’t see them regressing just yet and we are backing the home side to score over 1.5 goals this weekend.

Adelaide should win this game fairly comfortably but they always look like conceding a goal, too, and we’re predicting them to pick up a 3-1 win against Central Coast on Friday. There should be goals in the game, as has been the case all season in Adelaide matches, and this game should be no exception as they take on one of the weakest sides in the league.