Newcastle Jets vs. Perth Glory – A-League, June 5, 2021

The Jets notched a remarkable F3 Derby victory on Tuesday, ending a dismal 14-match winless run in the process. Of course, they have nothing left to play for this year. But they will be eager to finish the campaign on a high when Perth comes to town on Saturday, June 5.

The Glory will also be playing for pride on the final weekend of the regular season, having lost to Brisbane on Wednesday. Despite a late resurgence, Richard Garcia’s side will miss out on the finals for only the second time in six years.

In this Newcastle Jets vs. Perth Glory betting preview, I discuss the A-League odds, analyze the teams, and finish by sharing my prediction and pick for Saturday’s match.

Although both sides have missed a top-six finish, it is important to remember that ninth-place Perth (2.25) holds a whopping 16-point lead over last-place Newcastle (2.85).

As a result, the top-rated online sportsbooks view the Glory as the favorite to win on Saturday, leaving the Jets as outsiders.

That said, Craig Deans’ men will surely be on a high after finally winning a game of soccer. They must be confident of snatching a draw (3.60) in their last match of the season.

Following 14 failed attempts, Newcastle finally tasted victory on Tuesday.

The Jets’ previous win came back on February 21, with three draws and 11 losses coming after that. But having taken just three points from a possible 42, they eventually ended their drought in style.

Deans’ side looked unrecognizable from the team that has struggled so much over the past few months, with goals from Roy O’Donovan and Lucas Mauragis handing them a 2-0 victory over the Mariners.

It is no secret that Newcastle’s woes have stemmed from a lack of goals. I mean, they have only managed to score 21 goals in 24 games this term – nine less than Melbourne Victory and Western United.

However, five A-League teams have a poorer defensive record than Newcastle. If they can defend as they did against Central Coast, the Jets could get something from Saturday’s match.

Having spent much of the season out of top-six contention, the Glory pieced together an outstanding six-game unbeaten streak to thrust themselves back into the spotlight.

Four straight wins were followed by back-to-back draws, with many believing that Garcia’s men were destined to secure finals soccer this year.

But following a 2-1 loss to Brisbane on Wednesday, the Western Australians are now unable to finish inside the top six.

They only have themselves to blame, though. After all, they picked up just five wins in their opening 18 games this season – recording four draws and nine defeats along the way.

Unlike Newcastle, the Glory haven’t struggled to score goals. In fact, they are the second-highest scorers in the A-League. But they also have the third-worst defensive record, and that’s why they’ve missed out on the finals.

Let’s get one thing straight – Perth has been far better than Newcastle throughout 2021. Garcia’s men have accumulated 16 points more than Newcastle and have scored more than twice as many goals.

Still, the Jets put in a hugely impressive display to down the Mariners in midweek.

Given that both sides have nothing left to play for, I can see Saturday’s clash ending in a high-scoring draw. Both teams will be looking to end the campaign on a positive note, so I expect to see plenty of attacking soccer.