Central Coast Mariners vs. Macarthur FC Betting Preview – A-League, March 8, 2021

The Mariners continued their remarkable climb at the summit of the A-League ladder by securing an impressive victory over Perth Glory last time out.

Next up, Macarthur visits Central Coast Stadium on Monday, March 8, having seen off defending champions Sydney FC in their previous outings.

After assessing the bookmakers’ odds, I will share my Central Coast Mariners vs. Macarthur FC prediction and betting pick.

Central Coast (2.40) heads into Monday’s top-of-the-table showdown as the bookies’ favorite. But as you can see, the price for the home win is notably big here.

Macarthur (2.75) currently trails the Mariners by four points on the A-League ladder. Still, Ante Milicic’s men will be confident of snatch at least a draw (3.50) after beating Sydney FC last time out.

Having only managed three wins in 2018/19 and five wins across the entirety of the previous campaign, the Mariners are now just one victory away from matching their combined wins total from the last two seasons.

Oh, and they’ve only played ten games this term!

After winning seven of their opening ten matches in 2020/21, Central Coast is flying high at the top of the A-League ladder. Not only are Alen Stajcic’s men the second-highest scorers in the division, but they also boast one of the best defensive records.

Victories over Melbourne City, Western United, and Wellington Phoenix saw the Yellow & Navy enjoy a three-game winning streak last month. Adelaide then managed to beat the Mariners 3-2, but Stajcic’s side bounced back with an eye-catching win against Perth last time out.

It is difficult to say exactly how the Mariners have changed their fortunes so dramatically this season, although the team’s hard-working approach is clearly paying off.

What a shift! A big performance from DDS earns him a second straight @maccas Fan's Player of the Match award! #CCMFC #WontBackDown #PERvCCM pic.twitter.com/5SJNuB0il2

— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) March 4, 2021

Meanwhile, the Bulls have also been enjoying a positive season. Let’s not forget that this is Macarthur’s maiden A-League campaign, yet they currently find themselves second on the ladder.

Milicic’s men beat Brisbane Roar 2-0 last month before securing a 4-0 thrashing over Adelaide. Matt Derbyshire netted a hat-trick against the Reds, with Mark Milligan also getting on the scoresheet.

The Bulls were then given a taste of their own medicine, losing 4-1 to Western United. But the newcomers swiftly returned to winning ways by getting the better of the reigning champs in their previous game.

Once again, Derbyshire hit the target last time out. The Englishman has racked up seven goals in one assist in ten appearances this term, with six of those goals coming in his last four matches.

However, Central Coast goal-machine Alou Kuol will be eager to show Derbyshire what he can do on Monday.

This is destined to be a thrilling encounter with plenty of goal-mouth action. The Mariners will be aiming to extend their lead at the top of the table, while on the other hand, the Bulls will be looking to close the gap on the frontrunners.

In my eyes, the draw is the best bet for this matchup. Both sides are enjoying a strong run of form at the moment, so I can’t see either team losing on Monday.