Central Coast Mariners - Western United 28-02-2025

What happens when a dilapidated home team meets an away team that delivers game after game? Because that's exactly what happens on Friday morning, when Central Coast Mariners host Western United. And we think we have the answer.

Central Coast Mariners - When will it turn around?

Things are looking pretty bleak for the reigning champions these days. The team is sinking like a ship with a hole in the bow, and with 0-2-3 in their last five, there is little sign of an immediate improvement in form.

Even with five offensive substitutions, the home team failed to score a single goal against WSW last time out, in a match that ended in a nasty 0-4 loss. In their 18 matches played, the team has a goal difference of 20-31, and for those of us who saw CCM win The Treble last year, what we are witnessing now is a bit unbelievable.

The last few games I've seen CCM play, nothing is really in place. The team has underperformed in seven straight games, and when will it turn around? Or will it turn around at all? It certainly doesn't help to face an in-form away team, because this can quickly turn ugly for the home team.

You would think that with an attack consisting of Mikael Doka, Alou Kuol and Di Pizio, the home team would find their way to the goal more often than they do, but when the entire team is out of action, it's difficult, no matter who you have on the field.

Although the yellow-clad have had a rough start, things can still turn around. We can't sweep under the rug that the team finished 1st in the A-League table last year. It won't be easy to beat Western in the form they are in, but it is urgent for CCM if they are to make it to the playoffs. So they have to go and they have to try. But I will be surprised if they can shut out the impressive attacking line of the gang from Melbourne.

Western United – Scoring goals like never before

Western never ceases to impress, and after a somewhat difficult start to the season, they now seem to be well on their way to the playoffs. And what impresses me the most is probably the scoring form they are in. And if you are going to watch a game this Friday, I would choose this one. Because this could be entertaining.

The away team is 2-2-1 in the last five games, and is in 3rd place in the table, and with a goal difference of 33-26 there is a good chance that we will get more goals from the green-clad team. Because almost regardless of the opponent, the team manages to get a couple of goals. The guests score an average of 1.8 goals per game, which I think is a very good starting point. They have also scored 10 goals in the last five games, and this supports both the statistics and my gut feeling that there will be more goals from Western here.

And you can't talk about the good form of John Aloisi's boys without mentioning the previous match. When they sent Adelaide home 3-0, and without Adelaide being able to produce anything worth talking about. And such form must be exploited. We must strike while the iron is hot, and while CCM continues to mess it up for themselves.

And don't be surprised if it's either Noah Botic and/or Hiroshi Ibusuki who will be in charge of the entertainment here. In fact, Botic is the league's top scorer, along with Lolley from Sydney FC. And together with his Japanese partner, they cover every skill in the book. Because while one is big and strong, the other is small and quick. In addition, Botic scored against CCM the last time they met, and if you want to bet on goalscorers, the striker is probably a good option. The odds on Botic scoring a goal are 2.40.

Therefore we believe the away team will score

Form is a very important factor in football, and these two are at opposite ends of the form table. And we need not look any further than the Premier League to see examples of how form affects results. But still, I steer clear of a clear away win here. Because even though I think the away team will take all the points, we know that they will also concede an above-average number of goals. Because if there is one thing this league is known for, it is goals. But with Western scoring close to 2 goals per game, and having seen the chemistry between Botic and Ibusuki, the following bets must be tried at good odds;

Australia at 09:35: Central Coast Mariners – Western United: Over 1.5 goals to Western United (1.76)