Newcastle United Jets
- Newcastle United Jets have won 5 of their last 5 games (W5, D0, L0).
- Jets have gone 5 games unbeaten (W5) and were sitting at the top of the A-League table with 33 points after 17 matches.
- The Hunter side beat the league’s bottom side Brisbane Roar 4-1 in their previous game before winning 3-2 away at Adelaide United and 3-1 at Perth Glory.
- Their season to date has included strong cup form, and they’ve just won the Australia Cup.
Macarthur FC
- Macarthur FC have won 1 of their last 5 matches (W1, D3, L1).
- Macarthur FC are also in the running for finals soccer after picking up 25 points from 17 matches to sit 5th in the table.
- Mile Sterjovski’s side have won just 1 of their last 5 (D3, L1), but he’s made them into a tough team to beat by keeping up a high press and making them very dangerous on the counter-attack.
- Their form on the road in the A-League reads won 3, drawn 3 and lost 2, averaging 1.25 goals scored and 1.25 conceded per away game.
Key Players
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Notable scorers:
- Lachlan Rose has been prolific for the Jets this term, netting 8 goals in 17 A-League matches, while Harrison Sawyer has 6 for Macarthur.
- Clayton Taylor has really hit his stride for Newcastle, bagging 5 goals during the Jets’ current 5-game winning streak, which has seen them score 16 times.
Betting Insights
- Given the Jets are in flying form, have a much greater goal threat than Macarthur and have home field advantage, the 1.84 odds on the hosts look a little short for a game in which they are clear favorites to win.
- The 3.65 on Macarthur are big too, but their recent results suggest that the visitors should probably be around 4.0, although this is a tough ask given Newcastle’s recent form.
- There will be plenty of goalmouth action and both teams are likely to score given the high stakes with both in finals contention and a clash of styles that should lead to a few openings.
Prediction
- Macarthur will play a more turnover-based game plan, with the players pressing as a unit and the wide players looking to make it turnover-to-attack.
- Newcastle have won 4 and lost 4 of their 8 home games this season, but have scored 21 times in 8 at McDonald Jones Stadium.
