Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne Victory - Friday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Central Coast Mariners (6th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Mitch Duke continues to press his claims for a national team call up for the World Cup, as he lashed home a last minute volley after the Glory had been reduced to 10 men when Scott Jamieson went off hurt. Michael McGlinchey shrugged off any disappointment at the New Zealand failure against Mexico to get on the score sheet himself and boss the midfield for the Central Coast.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Despite the win the Mariners looked stretched and disjointed at times, and it is quite arguable that if Jamieson had not been hurt, he would have been able to stop Duke from getting a free shot in the penalty box.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Melbourne Victory (5th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Nathan Coe stood tall and kept a clean sheet, while commanding his area and working with a somewhat makeshift back line due to the dismissal of Adrian Leijer.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Somehow, despite one central defender getting sent off and another giving away a penalty, the Victory still kept that clean sheet. It was against Adelaide who are still trying to work out how to best kick the ball along the ground instead of in the air, but still, Melbourne can't afford to give other teams in the league that much rope.

Prediction: The Mariners aren't the top notch unit they have been under Graham Arnold, but Victory are also disrupted by their own coaching change. Victory haven't won against the Mariners in 4 matches and haven't won in their last 4 away matches. This is a hard match to predict but I'm tipping a 2-1 Mariners win.

Brisbane Roar vs Perth Glory - Saturday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Brisbane Roar (1st)

Keep Up The Good Work: Besart Berisha was back with vengeance, returning from an injury lay off to tear through the Wanderers defence in just the 5th minute to open the scoring. Ivan Franjic continues to show why he will be a first choice fullback for Australia at the World Cup, his work on both sides of the ball was impressive, and he gained a highlight reel long range bomb to double the Roar's advantage.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Sloppy passing at the back saw the Wanderers pull a goal back, this is not the first time such problems have reared up for the Roar and if they keep making mistakes it will cost them.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Perth Glory (7th)

Keep Up The Good Work: One of their best players this season, Scott Jamieson, would be a shoo-in for this section. Unfortunately for him and the Glory is out for the season through injury, an absolute tragedy for a Glory side who lack experience in their second tier squad members.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Jacob Burns has been given a two week ban for deciding to stand on top of an opponents ankle. Despite the usual outrage from Glory owner Tony Sage, his team were lucky not to go down to 10 and then eventually 9 men because of that.

Prediction: Roar should take this easily, Glory are missing a host of players and will have a somewhat inexperienced lineup. Glory will need a masterclass from Nagai, Sidnei & Smeltz to have a chance. Even with Jade North & Michael Theo out with injury I expect a 3-1 Roar win.

Sydney FC vs Newcastle Jets - Friday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Sydney FC (4th)

Keep Up The Good Work: He didn't have much more to do than tap the ball in, but a goal on debut is a good start for Ranko Despotovic.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Discipline. Again. Not content with Tiago getting an effective 10 week ban on the basis of just two of four potential red card offences the referee missed from him in their match against Melbourne Victory, Pedj Bojic went and got a second yellow, which should have cost Sydney FC points when Wellington equalised.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Newcastle Jets (3rd)

Keep Up The Good Work: Who else would I talk about here except Adam Taggart, scoring for fun, a hat-trick last week (even if it was against Melbourne Heart it still took a lot of work), he's propelling the Jets up the A-League leader in a fashion many thought impossible.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Jets were pretty spot on against the Heart, their clean-sheet was blotted only by a ragged deflection off the wall on a free kick so you can't fault their defence on that.

Prediction: Newcastle have better form with less question marks over luck or bad officiating decisions. Newcastle 2-0.

Wellington Phoenix vs Western Sydney Wanderers - Sunday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Wellington Phoenix (9th)

Keep Up The Good Work: The Nix were awful last week on attack, their goal coming from non-existent marking at a set piece combined with Sydney FC lacking a player on both posts. From open play it looked like they could play two matches and still not score. And they then managed to lose the match to a team a man down by totally abandoning their shape in search of a late winner.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Paul Ifill is being wasted off the bench. Wellington have yet to win a match. They need more attacking firepower.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Western Sydney Wanderers (2nd)

Keep Up The Good Work: Aaron Mooy took control of the Wanderers offence after the early loss of Shinji Ono through injury. The team as a whole kept belief and pushed for a late equaliser only to have the game sealed by the Roar with a late goal on the counter.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Conceding three goals for the first time in the Wanderers history means questions will be asked of the defence. Berisha was allowed two bites at the cherry for their first goal, when he beat Topor-Stanley all ends up, before capitalising on a lucky rebound from the Spiranovic block of the first shot. Jerome Polenz was rightly questioned for jogging back and not putting pressure on Yeboah before the young Roar striker could shoot his match sealing goal. Wanderers have a chance of going back to the top of the ladder if the Roar slip up against the Glory.

Prediction: Wanderers to bounce back and take all three points. 2-0 Wanderers.

Melbourne Heart vs Adelaide United - Sunday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Melbourne Heart (10th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Whoever turns up at AAMI Park to watch the Heart after losing yet again.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: With some more time to prepare I hope any "Aloisi Out" signs have better lettering. If Adelaide continue to play a high line the Heart will sense an opportunity to break in behind and get one on ones with Galekovic, perhaps someone like Williams or Mifsud could draw a red card if the circumstances are right.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Adelaide United (8th)

Keep Up The Good Work: A team who got tonked with a man advantage has little good work to be spoken of.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Defending would be a start. Of particular note is playing a suicidally high line with a goalkeeper not well known for his sweeping ability.

Prediction: On balance neither team looked like scoring last week, but on the flip side neither team can defend. This could be 0-0 or 5-5. I'll sit on the fence and say 3-3.

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