Aust. A-League
2013-01-01 - Melbourne Heart vs Newcastle Jets
A Sports Betting Pick by DownUnder
Football : Australia : A-League Tuesday, 1st January 2013
Kick-off 4.00pm (local) 4:00am GMT
Form:
Past five matches:
Melbourne Heart: LLLWD
Home record 2 Won - 2 Draws - 2 Lost
Newcastle : LWLLL
Away record 2 Won - 1 Draws - 4 Lost
If you are wanting to take a punt on the first game of football in a professional league for 2013, here is your opportunity.
Melbourne Heart
Three straight defeats in their last 3 games has plunged the Melbourne Heart to the bottom rung of the A-league ladder.
The home loss in the Melbourne derby must have been galling as they played arguably better than the Melbourne Victory, but being 2 goals up away to the Phoenix and then to lose 2-3 was a real kick in the guts.
There would be a lot of pressure to ring the changes, and that’s exactly what coach Aloisi has done.
It’s the Heart’s defence where the problems lie, and thankfully we see the return of the two suspended central defenders Simon Colosimo and Patrick Gerhardt for this match.
That is not the end of the changes as Richard Garcia looks set to replace Williams (groin) on the left wing with Aziz Behich to come in for Sam Mitchinson at left back (both were rested for the Phoenix match).
Michael Thwaite is also a no show, as he got injured in the closing stages against the Phoenix.
Newcastle Jets
Newcastle are not having the rub of the green either, for a team with aspirations of making the semi-finals playoff, 5 losses in their last 8 games is not making that dream a reality.
The issue for the Jets is how to slot Emile Heskie into a winning formula. Earlier in the season the Jets used to punt the ball up field and hope Heskie would get hold of it, invariably he did, but there was no one running off him in support.
Heskie has scored in his last 2 outings, both times from in or around the 6 yard box.
The key to this game is if Ruben Zadkovich can command the midfield for the Jets and supply good ball to the likes of Craig Goodwin, Ryan Griffiths and Heskie, another great strike like the one against the Melbourne Victory last week from 25 metres wouldn’t be missed either !
Head to Head
Played 7: Wins: Melbourne Heart 2, Newcastle 3, Draws: 2
Previous encounter:
Melbourne Heart 3-3 Newcastle Jets , November 24 2012
The Betting Verdict
This is a hard game to predict a winner as the Heart just can’t buy a win at the moment, but on the other side of the ledger; there is a new look to the Heart, they have been strengthened in defence, and they are playing at home.
I would go for repeat of the last encounter between these two teams, i.e. goals being scored at both ends, and at least 3, and not much between them after 90 minutes.
The Pick :
Melbourne Heart 2 - 2 Newcastle Jets
BEST BETTING TIP :
Shrimp on the Barbie for this game (main bet)Over 2.5 goals @ $1.84 at Dafabet
But if you wanted to some garlic prawns with that,
Both teams to score @ $1.67 at Bet365
