Central Coast Mariners vs Wellington Phoenix Prediction & Betting Tips - A-League

Prediction published on 22/02/2023, 05:46  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 22/02/2023 at 06:46 in Football Predictions

Central Coast Mariners need a win at home to Wellington Phoenix to maintain their A-League title hopes. They are second in the table with the visitors in fifth but only three points behind the Mariners. A home win will take Central Coast to within four points of leaders Melbourne City but from two games more. Last weekend saw them held to a 2-2 draw at Perth Glory. They did well to get a point as Central Coast were 2-0 down going into the 74th minute. Two Cummings penalties in the space of seven minutes rescued a point. It was still disappointing though as leaders Melbourne City lost last weekend. Central Coast have only won one of their last games in the A-League but four of those had been played away from home. Their form on home soil is far better with four wins in a row before drawing with Western Sydney Wanderers. 13 goals have been scored in those five home games.

Wellington Phoenix are fifth and that will take them into the play-off quarter finals. They need a second place finish to make it into the play-off semi-finals. Last week saw them get a comfortable 3-0 win at bottom-of-the-table Western United. They needed that win as their last two A-League games had both been lost. Wellington had lost their last two away games before that win at Western United. They did beat Central Coast Mariners at home in late January but know a loss this weekend will seriously damage their hopes of a top two finish. A bet on a home win is the recommended main bet fo this fixture.