Western Sydney Wanderers vs Central Coast Mariners Prediction: Fifth time lucky for Stajcic’s side

Western Sydney Wanderers, who have drawn two and lost two of their opening four Australian A-League Men’s games this season, return to action on Saturday (06:00 GMT, TNT Sports 4) against Central Coast Mariners. The visitors have made a solid start to their campaign, picking up seven points, and they will be targeting another positive result this weekend at CommBank Stadium.
Below are my Western Sydney Wanderers vs Central Coast Mariners predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Central Coast Mariners Betting Tips
- To Win to Nil - Western Sydney Wanderers @ 7/4
- Team With Most Booking Points - Central Coast Mariners @ 9/10
*Odds correct as of the time of publication
Team News
Brandon Borrello missed Western Sydney Wanderers' 2-0 defeat at Adelaide United on November 7 with a hamstring injury, and the 30-year-old remains sidelined for Saturday's match.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Al-Taay and Ruon Tongyik are back in Alen Stajcic's extended squad.
As for Central Coast Mariners, captain Trent Sainsbury (Achilles) is still in the treatment room alongside Haine Eames and Diesel Herrington (both unspecified), while Dylan Peraic-Cullen (also unspecified) has been ruled out, too.
Will Kennedy returns from injury, however.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Central Coast Mariners Predicted Lineups
- Western Sydney Wanderers: Thomas; Simmons, Pantazopoulos, Bonetig, Gersbach; Ugarkovic, Brillante, Thurgate, Kraev; Kuol, Barbarouses
- Central Coast Mariners: Redmayne; Roux, Tapp, Paull, Mauragis; James Ngor, Steele, McCalmont, Brandtman; Di Pizio, Edmondson
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Central Coast Mariners Odds
The Wanderers, despite failing to win a game this season, have been installed as 1/2 favourites, implying a 66.7% probability of success, with a Mariners victory priced at 9/2, offering an 18.2% chance, and the draw available at 3/1.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Central Coast Mariners Stats
- CCM finished 20 points below WSW last season
- WSW won the last H2H 4-0 in February
- CCM have earned the most booking points in their last three games
To Win to Nil - Western Sydney Wanderers @ 7/4
Scoring goals have been a problem for the Wanderers this season as they have struck just twice, in 1-1 draws with Melbourne City (H) and Macarthur FC (A), and blanked in defeats at Auckland FC (1-0) and Adelaide United (2-0).
Three consecutive away games haven’t helped their cause, though, and neither has playing three of last season’s top six, of which they were a part of, including the champions and runners-up in their opening two matches.
Stajcic will be hopeful that a home game against the Mariners, who finished six places and 20 points below the Wanderers last season, can bring up a first league win of the campaign.
The managerless Mariners, to their credit, have won twice already this term, losing just once, but their victories were against sides who finished ninth and 13th (last) in 2024/25, and they were beaten 2-0 at the home of Sydney FC, who ended up seventh last season.
CCM suffered a 4-0 defeat in their last game against the Wanderers, conceding three first-half goals in Gosford in February, and I think they may struggle to get on the scoresheet again this weekend.
The Wanderers are yet to keep a clean sheet this term, but they’ve only conceded five goals, and if they go ahead on Saturday, I can see the hosts holding on to their lead, protecting it at all costs to ensure they keep all three points in Sydney.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Team With Most Booking Points - Central Coast Mariners @ 9/10
The Mariners shared 40 booking points with Newcastle Jets in gameweek one, with both sides awarded two yellow cards apiece, but in the last three games, the Gosford club have been a winning selection in the Team With Most Booking Points market, picking up 20, 10 and 30 to their opponents' zero, zero and 20, respectively.
The Wanderers have shared 40 booking points on two occasions this season, with Melbourne City and Adelaide United, while they also shared 20 with Auckland.
Stajcic's side picked up the most booking points (30) against Macarthur in gameweek two, but in last season's corresponding fixture with the Mariners, they were only awarded 10 booking points to their opponents' 20.
I think Saturday's hosts can frustrate their visitors, leading to more booking points for the Mariners.
Nick Ware P/L 25/26 ALM Season
P/L: +40.8
Odds correct at time of publishing.
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