Stats preview: Jets, City out to end unwanted hoodoos
Round 10 of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season will be played over five successive nights as the Summer of Football heats up.
Newcastle Jets have experienced a real post-Christmas hangover in recent years, something they will be desperate to end against the struggling Brisbane Roar.
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And Melbourne City travel north to New South Wales also out to end an unwanted record.
All that and more in our Round 10 Stats Preview!
Phoenix on a hot streak
Two of the Hyundai A-League’s in-form teams meet on Friday at AAMI Park as Wellington Phoenix go in search of a fourth successive win for the first time since March 2015.
That run started with a 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory, as Roly Bonevacia, Michael Boxall and Nathan Burns scored for the Phoenix.
Mark Rudan’s team are in good form and sit fifth but they face a Victory side on a good run of their own.
The Champions are unbeaten in seven - of which six have been wins - and in Ola Toivonen, have the striker with the best minutes-per-goal ratio in the competition.
The Sweden International’s rate of a goal every 108.5 minutes is the best of any player to have featured for more than 250 minutes in the Hyundai A-League this season.
Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, December 28, 7:50pm (AEDT)
The record Sydney FC are desperate to change
Sydney FC may sit third on the Hyundai A-League table but they have claimed just three of their 17 points in home fixtures this season.
Having been made to relocate to a variety of venues due to renovations, Sydney FC have lost both of their clashes at Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah this season.
This clash presents a chance to right that wrong, though, after losses to Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix at Kogarah.
Brisbane have lost four matches on the trot and the only time in club history they have dropped more games in a row came late in 2011.
Amazingly, that rut was followed by a record 36-game unbeaten run under the tutelage of Ange Postecoglou.
Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar
Saturday, December 29, 7:50pm (AEDT)
Newcastle’s Christmas hangover
In 14 attempts, Newcastle Jets are the only team in Hyundai A-League history to have never won a game between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
The stats make for dire reading for Jets fans, who have only drawn two of the 14, losing 12.
Newcastle’s shots-to-goals ratio is also the lowest in the Hyundai A-League at just 6.5%.
The Jets have scored nine goals from 139 attempts in the 2018/19 season.
Adelaide’s record at McDonald Jones Stadium is not great, though, perhaps filling Jets fans with confidence - United have not won at the ground since March 2015.
Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United
Sunday, December 30, 7:00pm (AEDT)
Not a happy hunting ground
Perth Glory’s unbeaten Hyundai A-League record came to an end last week at the hands of Sydney FC.
And while they will be confident of bouncing back against the rock-bottom Central Coast Mariners, the Glory have traditionally struggled at Central Coast Stadium.
Perth has won just two of 20 fixtures at the venue, losing 16, and are winless in four New Year’s Eve matches.
Central Coast are winless in 15 matches against all opponents, though, and have won just one of their last 26 Hyundai A-League fixtures.
Mariners striker Matt Simon is committing 3.25 fouls per 90 minutes this season, more than anyone to have amassed more than 500 minutes of Hyundai A-League football this season.
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
Monday, December 31, 7:00pm (AEDT)
Home comforts for Wanderers
Western Sydney Wanderers coach Markus Babbel may be slightly perplexed at his side’s in-game fadeouts but he will be boosted by the knowledge that his side have never lost at home to Melbourne City.
In nine home fixtures against the club, the Wanderers have won six and drawn three.
Western Sydney will be out to avoid a third successive defeat at ANZ Stadium for the first time in their history though.
Melbourne City are the Hyundai A-League’s best passers, completing 82% of their passes, but have won just one of their last six matches outside Victoria.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City
Tuesday, January 1, 7:50pm (AEDT)
