Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne City Prediction and Betting Preview 20 Mar 2020

Here's our Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne City Prediction analysis:

Melbourne City could consign Central Coast Mariners to a piece of unwanted club history when the two sides meet in Gosford on Friday.

Match status: 2019/20 A-League - Round 24
Kick-off: Friday 20 Mar 2020, 07:30am CET
 Venue: Central Coast Stadium (Gosford)

Goalkeepers You Can Bet Your Money On

3y ago

The A-League has vowed to play on behind closed doors amid the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, with just five rounds of fixtures to go before the end of the season.

The Mariners’ narrow 1-0 loss to Brisbane Roar last weekend was their ninth in succession, just one short of their previous worst run of 10 games during last season.

It’s been a frustrating period for Alen Stajcic’s side, who have often performed better than their results suggest but have seemingly forgotten how to win.

Amassing victories has not been an issue for Erick Mombaerts’ men for much of the 2019/20 season, with City currently in second spot on the Hyundai A-League ladder.

City are seemingly over their mid-season slump, unbeaten in their last three games including Saturday night’s 1-1 draw against Western Sydney Wanderers.

If City are genuine finals contenders this season, then this is a road trip that should present few problems. But if they cannot take all three points, questions will continue to be asked if they have the mental strength to go all the way.

Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne City FC Team News

There is seemingly little left for the Mariners to salvage from another poor season which looks likely to end with them propping up the rest of the league for the third campaign in a row and fourth time in five years.

It is a far cry from the spell which saw them finish in the top three in six of their first nine years in the division, but it is now nothing new to see them struggling at the wrong end of the table.

Alen Stajcic 's side go into Friday's contest on a horrendous run of form which has seen them lose each of their last nine games, stretching back to a January 12 triumph over Melbourne Victory.

This contest against another Melbourne team is likely to be a much stiffer test than that, though, and should Central Coast lose again then they would be just one short of the all-time A-League record for most consecutive defeats.

Erick Mombaerts 's side are on course for their highest-ever league finish, although to do that they must hold off the challenge of third-placed Wellington Phoenix, who are a point behind with a game in hand.

The regular season title appears to be out of reach for City again, with Sydney sitting 10 points clear and with two games in hand, but the carrot of their best-ever league finish and an automatic spot in the Finals Series will be enough to keep them motivated until the end of the season.

By contrast, Central Coast's main motivation may now be to improve on last season's tally of just 13 points; they need only one more point to do so but, considering they were also in that position more than two months ago, they cannot take that for granted.

If there is cause for optimism amongst the hosts then it is that 10 of their 13 points this season have come in front of their own fans, whereas City have only won one of and taken four points from their last five A-League games on the road.

Injured or Suspended Players

Central Coast Mariners: Gianni Stensness.

Melbourne City: Nathaniel Atkinson.

Pre-Match Odds

Central Coast Mariners: 5.7
Draw: 4.58
Melbourne City: 1.475

All odds are with 1xBet and are subject to change.
All odds are for Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne City Predictions with 1xBet and are subject to change.

Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne City Predictions

It is almost impossible to back a Central Coast Mariners win, or even a draw, at the moment given their miserable form. Melbourne City have been shaky on the road of late, but they won their last away game and will expect to come away with a comfortable three points here.