Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne City Predictions

• Central Coast Mariners are bottom of the league having lost nine in a row.
• Melbourne City have taken 10 points from a possible 15 and are currently in second place.
• Central Coast have conceded 47 times this season, an average of 2.23 goals per game.
• Melbourne City have scored 37 times at a rate of 1.76 goals per game.

Lowly Central Coast continue to struggle

Central Coast Mariners have had a terrible season, even by their usually low standards. They currently sit seven points adrift at the bottom of the league having lost their last nine games in a row, scoring just seven goals in that time. The side have picked up just 13 points all season and finishing at the foot of the table looks all but guaranteed.

Central Coast have scored less than a goal a game this season with the team really struggling in the final third as they lack a genuine goalscorer. Their efforts at the other end of the pitch haven’t been much better with 47 goals conceded, a rate of 2.23 goals per game. 15 of those have come in their last five games with The Mariners really struggling in recent weeks.

Playoff advantage on the line for Melbourne City

Melbourne City are currently second in the league, sitting 10 points behind leaders Sydney FC. Whilst they can still mathematically catch Sydney, the title looks as though it is out of reach for Melbourne City. They’ve have given their best efforts in recent weeks though, winning three of their last five games and staving off pressure from Wellington and Perth to cling to their second place.

Melbourne City were scoring for fun at one point this season but the goals have slowed as the season has progressed. Overall they have scored 37 times, a little way short of 2 goals a game but their defensive issues have still been visible in the past few weeks with the side conceding five goals in their last five games.

Melbourne City to pick up another win

It’s hard to see Central Coast taking anything from this game with their form being as poor as it has been in recent weeks. Melbourne City should expect to take maximum points from this match and we’re backing them to do just that. We think the home side fail to make and impression on this game and we think Melbourne City are the best bet on the handicap market, which is currently set at -1.

This should be a reasonably easy victory for a Melbourne City side that have scored with great regularity at times this season and we don’t think Central Coast have anywhere near enough to test them this weekend. We’re predicting that Melbourne City return home with a comprehensive 3-0 win.