A-League Round 2 Preview

Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory - Friday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Adelaide United (1st)

Keep Up The Good Work: Jeronimo Neumann took the mantle of leading the Adelaide attack and scored a well taken brace.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Adelaide managed to get two players sent off. Keep discipline is an important part of any club and in the fires the Adelaide/Melbourne rivalry cool heads must prevail.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Melbourne Victory (7th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Defensively the Victory were spot on, managing to keep a clean sheet and not having too many problems posed by their opponents.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Their attack was blunted by the tactics of John Aloisi's Melbourne Heart. Goals win games.

Prediction: Adelaide 2-1

Melbourne Heart vs Central Coast Mariners - Saturday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Melbourne Heart (5th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Their defence and midfield effectively nullified the potent Melbourne Victory attack last week, they need to do the same against another top 4 contender to have a hope of taking all three points at home.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: As their defence nullified the Victory attack, so did the Victory defence nullify their attack.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Central Coast Mariners (4th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Storm Roux had a brilliant match last week in the right fullback position. He posed a constant threat down the flanks and admirably assisted his central defensive partners when off the ball.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: The Mariners nearly got run over by a Wanderers side with the wind at their back, their manager Graham Arnold will want to keep things tight in the final minutes this week.

Prediction: Mariners 2-0

Brisbane Roar vs Sydney FC - Saturday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Brisbane Roar (3rd)

Keep Up The Good Work: Besart Berisha brought his side out from the doldrums with a poachers goal early in the second half. If the rest of the Roar side play into form Berisha is looking at a 20+ goal haul this season.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Despite dominating victories during the pre-season, the Roar didn't get out of first gear until after half-time. Del Piero won't give them any respite if they turn in another sluggish start.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Del Piero FC (2nd)

Keep Up The Good Work: It was quite telling that the second best player for Sydney FC wasn't even a Sydney FC player. Del Piero was the best player on the park, and he was helped with the Newcastle Jets atrocious quality. Zenon Caravella in particular gifted Del Piero possession that lead to the second goal.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Apart from Del Piero, Sydney FC looked below average. Improvement needed across the club.

Prediction: Roar 3-1

Newcastle Jets vs Perth Glory - Sunday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Newcastle Jets (10th)

Keep Up The Good Work: To tell any player to keep up the good work suggests there was good work by Newcastle last week.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Everything. They created more chances for Sydney FC than they did their own strikers.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Perth Glory (9th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Brazilian Sidnei was a highlight, showing pace and flair and proving he will be a handful for any side.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Despite having a two man advantage late in the game the Glory were unable to conjure up a goal.

Prediction: Glory 3-0

Western Sydney Wanderers vs Wellington Phoenix - Sunday

Team & Ladder Ranking: Western Sydney Wanderers (5th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Tomi Juric & Shinji Ono came off the bench and made a huge impact, turning around the performance of the side, winning a point and going close to taking all three points.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Labinot Haliti, Mark Bridge & Aaron Mooy were lacking in end product or the ability to deliver that final killer ball. Hopefully the cobwebs of the pre-season will be blown away this weekend.

Team & Ladder Ranking: Wellington Phoenix (8th)

Keep Up The Good Work: Air New Zealand, who have brought back half a dozen international players for the Phoenix to reinsert into their starting squad. A full strength Phoenix side could easily have drawn or won their match last week and they will welcome the reinforcements.

Things They Could Have Done Better Last Week: Despite being a rag tag team assembled from the scraps of local lower leagues, they still should not have collapsed in a heap and lost the match during injury time.

Prediction: Wanderers 4-0