Wellington Phoenix vs Melbourne Victory Prediction: Another Ife away day for Victory

After Melbourne City drew 2-2 at Wellington Phoenix's Sky Stadium last week, it's the turn of their bitter rivals, Melbourne Victory, to try their luck in front of the Yellow Fever on Friday (06:00 GMT, TNT Sports 1). The visitors have lost three of their last four games, which includes a 1-0 defeat at Central Coast Mariners last Sunday, and another reverse this week would see their opponents leapfrog them in the Australian A-League Men's table.

Below are my Wellington Phoenix vs Melbourne Victory predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

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New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Team News

Josh Oluwayemi, Dan Edwards and Nathan Walker (all unspecified) are still sidelined for Wellington Phoenix.

Head coach Giancarlo Italiano has made one change to his extended squad, including Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues at the expense of Xuan Loke.

Football Odds

Once again, Brendan Hamill (knee) appears to be Melbourne Victory's only injury absentee.

Boss Arthur Diles could make alterations to his starting XI, though, following last Sunday's 1-0 loss at Central Coast Mariners, who went down to 10 men in the 55th minute and clung on to their one-goal lead.

Roderick Miranda, Nishan Velupillay and Jordi Valadon are most likely to earn promotions from the bench.

Wellington Phoenix vs Melbourne Victory Odds

Wellington Phoenix, who have lost the last three head-to-heads, are 5/2 underdogs on Friday, implying a 28.6% probability of success, while Melbourne Victory are 9/10 to make it four wins on the trot against the New Zealanders.

The draw is offered at 5/2, while Both Teams To Score In The 1st Half, Both Teams To Score In The 2nd Half has been boosted from 8/1 to 9/1.

Anytime Goalscorer - Ifeanyi Eze (WEL) @ 13/8

After bagging a brace against Melbourne's other ALM club, City, last Friday, Wellington Phoenix striker Ifeanyi Eze should be in a confident mood ahead of the visit of Victory this week.

The 26-year-old, who joined the Nix from Iraqi side AL Karkh last summer, is the joint-leading marksman in the ALM after 15 rounds of fixtures, tied on seven goals with Newcastle Jets forward Lachlan Rose.

Today's Football Fixtures

Eze failed to get on the scoresheet in December's reverse fixture as Victory ran riot at AAMI Park, so you would imagine he will be desperate to right those wrongs on Friday and add Victory to a victim list which already includes Perth Glory, Central Coast Mariners, Auckland FC, Newcastle Jets, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City (x2).

Home Team Total Goals - Over 1.5 @ 13/8

This was a 2/1 winner in last week's Wellington Phoenix-Melbourne City preview, with Eze opening the scoring in the 23rd minute at Sky Stadium and doubling his side's lead in the 52nd.

The Nix have now found the net at least twice in nine of their 15 ALM games this season, including five of their last seven, and five of their seven on home soil. The good thing about backing the same bet as the previous weekend is that I merely had to update the statistics by one,  so no calculators or thumbs were used in the making.

Victory, meanwhile, have conceded 2+ goals in five of their 15 league matches, three of which have come on their travels.

The Nix have scored at least two goals in four of their last five home games, including their last three, and can double up again on Friday.

Nick Ware P/L 25/26 ALM Season (After GW15)

 P/L: +1.3%