Match Preview: Western Sydney Wanderers (H)

Central Coast Mariners return to A-League action on Saturday evening, hosting Western Sydney Wanderers in a huge match at Our Paradise.

Mark Jackson’s team now have full focus on a finals push in the Isuzu UTE A-League, starting with this potentially season-defining clash on Saturday.

Wanderers sit eighth on the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder, level on points with Macarthur and Sydney FC who occupy sixth spot. The Mariners are one place and four points below, so a win against Wanderers would close the gap to just a point.

The Wanderers come into this game off the back of a comeback win over rivals Macarthur, responding well from their late heartbreak in the Sydney derby the week prior.

Alen Stajic’s men are unbeaten in three matches, their second best run of the season, whilst Mark Jackson’s side have lost just once in the last eight Isuzu UTE A-League fixtures.

The Mariners are on a run of five matches unbeaten, but have drawn the last four, a club record run of consecutive stalemates.

⏮ Previously vs Wanderers

The Mariners have a great recent record against the Wanderers, winning the last three meetings since Jackson took over at the start of last season, whilst we have lost just once to the Red and Black since 2020.

The most recent meeting was just over a month at Commbank Stadium, the Mariners earning all three points after a thrilling end to the game, Doka scoring on the break late on to seal the win.

🔎 Western Sydney Wanderers

There is no doubting the Wanderers’ attacking threat with the likes of Nicolas Milanovic and Zac Sapsford – not to mention marquee man Juan Mata, who will visit Our Paradise for the first time on Saturday if he can recover from a hamstring injury.

However, Wanderers are there for the taking at the other end of the pitch. Only bottom two Perth Glory (41) and Brisbane Roar (32) have conceded more than Wanderers’ 31 this season,

They have though, made a substantial effort to solidify things at the back in the transfer window, bringing in experienced defenders Alex Gersbach and Joshua Laws from overseas, plus defensive midfielder Mohamed Al-Taay from Wellington.

For the Mariners, Mikael Doka has scored two in three matches against the Wanderers, with his first Mariners goal coming in this fixture last season from the penalty spot.

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