Newcastle Jets vs Adelaide United Prediction: Reds to serve up more strikes at McDonald Jones Stadium

After losing four of their first five Australian A-League Men's games this season, Newcastle Jets face another tough test on Saturday (07:00, TNT Sports 1) as they host unbeaten Adelaide United at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Read below for my Newcastle Jets vs Adelaide United prediction, complete with all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Lachlan Rose could make his ALM debut for Newcastle Jets on Saturday after missing their first five league games through injury following his off-season move from Macarthur.

However, Oscar Fryer and Jacob Dowse remain unavailable for Rob Stanton's side, while Alex Nunes, Ben van Dorssen and Zac Bowling have all been left out of the extended squad.

Football Odds

Adelaide United head coach Carl Veart has named Yaya Dukuly and Ryan White in his 20-man squad for Saturday’s clash. Ethan Cox, Jordan Elsey and Bailey O’Neil remain sidelined, while Luke Duzel is now back in full training but won't be considered for selection this week.

Newcastle Jets vs Adelaide United Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Newcastle Jets vs Adelaide United page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Newcastle Jets are 5/2 to triumph at McDonald Jones Stadium for the first time since April 7 when they were 3-1 victors over Sydney FC in the 2023/24 ALM campaign. Those odds give Stanton's side an implied win probability of 28.6%, while Adelaide United are 5/6 favourites, or a 54.5% chance, to return to winning ways after drawing 2-2 with Perth Glory at Coopers Stadium last time out.

The draw is priced 13/5, both teams to score at 4/9, and over 2.5 total goals at 4/9.

Adelaide striker Luka Jovanovic (11/8) is favourite in the anytime goalscorer market, followed by teammates Archie Goodwin (6/4), Zach Clough (8/5) and Ben Folami (21/10), with Eli Adams (also 21/10) first up for the hosts.

Both Teams to Score in First Half - Yes @ 5/2

Going against the grain, Adelaide are the only ALM side to see both teams score in over half (60 per cent) of their first halves so far; Brisbane Roar are next up on 40 per cent, while the Jets are one of six clubs yet to see BTTS - Yes land in the first half this season.

Last Friday's draw with Perth Glory was actually the first game in which Adelaide had failed to net before half-time, with Adam Taggart scoring the only goal of the first half in the third minute of stoppage time.

The Reds were leading 1-0 at the interval in their ALM opener against Central Coast Mariners on October 26 and 3-1 at Western Sydney Wanderers a week later before heading into half-time with the scores level at 1-1 the week after that at home to Western United, while they recorded a third consecutive BTTS - Yes in the first half in Sydney against Brisbane Roar on October 23. They were behind 2-1 at the break before recovering in the second period to win 3-2 at Allianz Stadium.

The Jets' first halves have been much more low key, particularly in their two most recent games which have seen them go into half-time at 0-0 against the Mariners and Auckland FC. However, there was one first-half goal scored in their first two games against Melbourne City and Macarthur - unfortunately for the Jets, both strikes came from their opponents, while Western Sydney Wanderers were 2-0 ahead at the interval in their 4-1 thrashing of Stanton's side on November 8.

The Jets are yet to find the net in the opening half of a game but the fact Adelaide have conceded a first-half goal in their last four matches, shipping five in total, should embolden Saturday's hosts to go at their opponents from the off in what could transpire to be a fascinating first 45 minutes (plus added time) at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Total Goals - Over 3.5 @ 6/5

As already discussed, one can usually rely upon Adelaide to provide entertainment and, with that, goals. The Reds have been involved in 21 goals (12 for, nine against) this season, averaging 4.2 goals per game - only Brisbane Roar (4.4) are averaging more - while their 2.4 goals per game scored is the highest in the division.

The Jets, meanwhile, are averaging 2.8 goals per game (0.8 goals p/g, two conceded p/g), and only one of their contests this term - the 4-1 defeat at the Wanderers on November 8 - has seen over 3.5 total goals.

However, like the Wanderers, Adelaide bring the goals, as they have done in two of the three meetings between them and the Jets since the start of 2023. In March last year, United beat Newcastle 4-2 at McDonald Jones Stadium, with five first-half goals scored - three by the visitors and two by the hosts. Their second and final head-to-head of 2023 came at Coopers Stadium in Adelaide, where the Reds ran out 3-1 winners to chalk up a second successive game between the pair with over 3.5 total goals.

Events weren't as exciting in March this year as United edged a tight encounter 1-0 at McDonald Jones Stadium, but I think there will be a return to more goals on Saturday, and backing over 3.5 at 6/5 could be the play here.

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