Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne City Prediction: Caputo quick off the mark again

Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City, who lost 3-2 at Western Sydney Wanderers and 4-1 at Adelaide United, respectively, last weekend in the Australian A-League Men's, will both be looking to bounce back on Saturday (06:00 GMT, TNT Sports 2) when they meet at Polytec Stadium in Gosford.

Below are my Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne City predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Dulan Peraic-Cullen returns after missing last Saturday's 3-2 loss at Western Sydney Wanderers, but Trent Sainsbury (Achilles), Haine Eames and Diesel Herrington (both unspecified) remain sidelined for the hosts.

Football Odds

Samuel Souprayen and Emin Durakovic are back in the Melbourne City squad after recovering from their respective injuries, while Kai Trewin, who was left out against Adelaide last week after his international exertions with Australia, is ready for selection in the league again, too, after starting Tuesday's 2-0 victory over Johor DT in the AFC Champions League.

Mathew Leckie, Elbasan Rashani, Nathaniel Atkinson (all hamstring), Alessandro Lopane (ankle), James Nieuwenhuizen (ACL), Lawrence Wong (MCL) and Akeem Gerald (international duty) all miss out, however.

Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne City Odds

Central Coast Mariners are unbeaten in their last four Gosford meetings with Melbourne City (W2, D2), but Saturday's hosts are underdogs this weekend, with odds of 16/5 implying a 23.8% probability of success. Melbourne City, meanwhile, are priced at 8/11 (57.9%), with the draw, which was the outcome in last season's corresponding fixture, available at 5/2, and a repeat of that 1-1 scoreline last December offered at 6/1.

First Goal Time (10 Minute Intervals) - 1-10 @ 16/5

The Mariners were a goal down inside the first minute of their 3-2 defeat at the Wanderers last Saturday, with Bozhidar Kraev putting the hosts into an early lead. Remarkably, the Mariners managed to equalise inside the 10-minute mark as Lucas Mauragis struck in the ninth minute.

There were three more goals scored in a crazy first half at CommBank Stadium, including one in the 11th minute.

It wasn't the first goal the Mariners have conceded before the 10th minute this season, with Wellington Phoenix striker Ifeanyi Eze putting his side ahead in the fourth minute of a 1-1 draw at Polytec Stadium on November 2.

Today's Football Fixtures

Melbourne City, meanwhile, have scored two ALM goals before the 10th minute this season, with Max Caputo opening the scoring in the fifth minute of their 4-0 victory over Perth Glory on October 25, and in a 2-0 derby day win against Melbourne Victory on November 8.

Caputo also struck early on against Johor MT in midweek, netting in the third minute, marking the second time this term that Aurelio Vidmar's side have scored inside the first 10 minutes of an AFC Champions League game, with a Gen Shoji own-goal putting them into a lead in their 2-1 win at Japanese side Machida Zelvia on November 4.

I'm seeing some value, then, in backing a goal between the first and 10th minute in Gosford on Saturday.

First Goalscorer - Max Caputo (MCY) @ 4/1

Off the back of my first pick, this looks like a credible selection, too.

As previously alluded to, City striker Caputo has been quick off the mark this season, with half (three) of his six goals across the ALM and AFC Champions League opening the scoring.

The 20-year-old has struck the opening effort in three of City's last six matches, and with the Mariners conceding first in four of their five games, he will be sensing an opportunity to get on the scoresheet early on in Gosford.

Nick Ware P/L 25/26 ALM Season

 P/L: +14.25