Brisbane Roar vs. Central Coast Mariners – A-League, May 12, 2021

Brisbane’s relentless fixture schedule dishes up another tough test on Wednesday, May 12, as Central Coast visits South East Queensland.

The Roar have two games in hand over many of their rivals. Still, they only find themselves one point outside the top six.

On the flip side, a five-match winless run (three draws, two losses) has seen the Mariners drop to fourth on the A-League ladder – two points ahead of Brisbane.

Can the Roar overtake the Mariners this week? I discuss the bookmakers’ odds and share my prediction and betting pick for Wednesday’s clash.

Not only have Warren Moon’s men lost two of their nine home games this season, but they have also lost just one of their previous eight outings.

With that in mind, it is hardly surprising that 10bet views Brisbane as the favorite to claim all three points on Wednesday.

That said, the Mariners boast the fourth-best away record in the A-League this year. You’d be foolish to write them off altogether.

Brisbane’s seven-game unbeaten streak (four wins, three draws) was finally brought to an end on Sunday. However, the Queenslanders gave a good account of themselves against Melbourne City.

Very few teams in the league can come from 2-0 down to get back on level terms against City. But following a spirited comeback, the teams went into half-time at 2-2.

The Roar eventually succumbed to City’s pressure and lost the game 3-2, although I don’t think they can be too displeased with their efforts.

If they can pick up where they left off on Sunday, they will cause Central Coast all kinds of problems.

Despite conceding three goals last time out, Brisbane still has the best defensive record in the A-League. Yes, they haven’t played as many games as their rivals. But you’ve got to give credit where credit is due, right?

When you look at the Mariners’ recent results, it’s easy to say that they’ve collapsed and thrown away their premiership hopes.

I mean, Alen Stajcic’s men stunned everyone by winning eight of their opening 11 games this term, with many believing that they would be able to maintain their early-season form and challenge for the title.

Fast-forward to today, and the Mariners have only managed to win one of their last nine games. But having picked up five draws in that time, Central Coast is still a team that opponents should be worried about.

Ultimately, Stajcic’s men have remained competitive throughout their slump and probably should have claimed a few more points along the way.

The Mariners dominated Melbourne Victory last time out but were unable to prevent a 1-1 draw. If they can start turning draws into wins again, they should finish in the top six without any real problems.

There is absolutely no denying that Brisbane is enjoying a far better run of results than Central Coast at the moment. Still, the Mariners often find ways to avoid defeat and snatch a draw.

Funnily enough, only two teams have drawn more games than Brisbane this season. Taking that into account, I can see the points being shared at Moreton Daily Stadium on Wednesday.