Central Coast Mariners vs Perth Glory Prediction: Another low corner count between strugglers

Last season's Premiership and Grand Final winners Central Coast Mariners have endured a dismal defence of their crowns in 2024/25, sitting 11 points behind the top six with just five games remaining of the regular Australian A-League Men's campaign. Still, Mark Jackson will want his side to finish strongly, and he will certainly expect a first victory since January 17 on Sunday (05:00, TNT Sports 3) when Perth Glory pitch up at Industree Group Stadium.

The visitors are bottom of the league and are staring at back-to-back wooden spoons - three points on Sunday are vital if they wish to avoid that. Below are my Central Coast Mariners vs Perth Glory predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Bradley Tapp (knee) and Ryan Edmondson (unspecified) miss out again for the hosts, who are also without midfielder Haine Eames. The 17-year-old has started the Mariners' last 11 games but won't be available for selection this weekend.

Nicholas Duarte came off the bench to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw at leaders Auckland before the international break and the 21-year-old will hope that goal is enough to earn him a promotion to the starting XI.

Football Odds

Harrison Steele could replace Eames in midfield after coming on for the teenager in the latter stages of that stalemate in New Zealand, and experienced defender Storm Roux is another player eyeing a starting spot.

The big news for the visitors is that captain and seven-goal top scorer Adam Taggart should feature in Gosford despite being forced to withdraw from the Australia squad ahead of their World Cup 2026 qualifier against China earlier this week with a groin niggle.

Attacking midfielder Lachie Wales (Achilles) and Zach Lisolajski (ankle), however, both miss out through injury, as do David Williams (knee) and Adriano Lebib (unspecified).

Full-back Joshua Risdon is available, though, after serving a suspension in the Glory's 3-1 home defeat to Brisbane Roar on March 15.

Central Coast Mariners vs Perth Glory Odds

Both teams are winless in their last eight league games, but the reigning champions are odds on (9/10) to snap out of their run, implying a 52.6% probability, while the visitors are 13/5, or a 27.8% chance, to triumph on their travels for the first time since December 21.

The sides have already met twice this season, playing out a goalless draw in Gosford last November before last month's 1-1 stalemate in Perth. A third successive draw between the two teams can be backed at 12/5, while both teams to score is available at 8/13.

Last season's Golden Boot winner Taggart heads the anytime goalscorer market at 11/8, followed by the Mariners' three-goal leading marksman Alou Kuol (13/8).

Match Result & Total Goals Over/Under 1.5 - Central Coast Mariners & Over 1.5 Goals @ 13/10

Neither the Mariners nor the Glory have claimed a victory in their last eight ALM matches, but the former have picked up five points, losing just three times, while Sunday's visitors to Gosford have taken two fewer points in that period.

The Glory also possess the worst away record in the league, winning just one of their nine travel games and accruing just six points away from Perth. They were well beaten on their last away trip, suffering a 4-1 defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers, and their confidence took a further hit before the international break as they lost 3-1 at home to Brisbane Roar, who overtook them in 12th.

The Mariners, meanwhile, should be buoyed by their draw against league leaders Auckland, who twice took the lead at Go Media Stadium, only for the Gosford club to hit back on both occasions and claim a point in New Zealand. That was their seventh successive match that had seen at least two goals scored, and 86% (18/21) of their ALM contests this season have gone over 1.5 (76% for the Glory).

I think Jackson's side can grab another couple of goals on Sunday, and that should be enough for CCM to emerge triumphant against a goal-shy Glory outfit that last struck twice in a game on January 25.

Corners Over/Under 9.5 - Under 9.5 @ 5/4

CCM league games this season only average 9.43 corners per game, ranking them fourth-bottom by that metric, while the Glory are next up on 9.9 p/g.

The under 9.5 line has landed easily in both meetings between the teams in 2024/25; there were seven in Gosford last November and just five in February's Perth fixture.

This selection also won in the Mariners' last match as Auckland won the corner count 4-3.

Offers

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