Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Prediction: Rose could prove thorn in the side of visitors

Four points from their first two games of the calendar year have been followed by just two points in the last four for Newcastle Jets, who head into Saturday's contest against Melbourne Victory at McDonald Jones Stadium (06:30, TNT Sports 1) 13 points behind their visitors, who have won their last two without conceding.

Below is my Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory prediction, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of this Australian A-League Men's contest.

Team News

Newcastle Jets youngsters Justin Vidic and Ben van Dorssen have both been named in Rob Stanton's extended squad for the visit of Melbourne Victory this weekend, but Dane Ingham, Oscar Fryer and Jacob Dowse all remain unavailable for selection.

After back-to-back 2-2 draws with Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners, Stanton could make changes to his starting XI on Saturday in a bid to break out of a four-game winless run. Lachlan Rose came off the bench against the Mariners to score his third goal in his last five appearances, all of which have come as a substitute, and he could finally be given a chance to impress from the beginning of the match.

January signing Kota Mizunuma was introduced at the same time as Rose against the Mariners and he provided the assist for Mark Natta's late equaliser, so the Japanese midfielder is another who has probably done enough to earn a start. Fellow new arrival Charles M'Mombwa could also come in from the off.

Football Odds

Melbourne Victory head coach Arthur Diles is likely to name an unchanged starting XI on Saturday following last weekend's 2-0 win at Perth Glory, where Nishan Velupillay and Clarismario Santos Rodrigues were the scorers for the visitors.

That means Bruno Fornaroli, Daniel Arzani, Rene Piscopo, Adama Traore and Fabian Monge, all of whom appeared as second-half substitutes at HBF Park, will have to settle for the bench again.

Joshua Inserra was an unused substitute in Perth but he's out of the reckoning this week as he is on international duty, which could open up a spot in the squad for Jing Reec.

Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory Odds

Newcastle Jets failed to beat Melbourne Victory last season, losing 5-3 at AAMI Park before playing out a 1-1 draw at McDonald Jones Stadium. Stanton's side are 11/4 to claim a first triumph against Victory since February 2023, implying a win probability of 26.7%, while their visitors are 4/5, or a 55.6% chance, to win for the third weekend in a row.

The draw is priced at 13/5, both teams to score at 1/2, and over 2.5 total goals at 8/15.

Victory pair Fornaroli (21/20) and Nikos Vergos (13/10) head the anytime goalscorer market, with Ben Gibson (21/10) first up for the hosts.

Half-time/Full-time - Draw/Melbourne Victory @ 4/1

Melbourne Victory have won their last two games by two goals to nil but they've been made to work for both wins. Perth Glory held them off until half-time last Saturday and it wasn't until the 61st minute that the visitors struck the opening goal through Velupillay before Clarismario doubled their lead five minutes later.

A week prior, Victory opened the scoring against Sydney FC in the 24th minute but didn't get their second until the 90th minute. They've been solid starters this season but have been level at the interval in seven of their 15 league fixtures so far, including half (three) of their six this calendar year.

Newcastle Jets, meanwhile, have been drawing at half-time in five of their 14 league games, one of which was in their last home match against Perth Glory.

Stanton's team are winless in their last four contests but have drawn their last two and in their 3-1 defeat at home to Macarthur on January 12, the scores were level (1-1) at the midway point before the visitors took control of proceedings in the second half.

That was the third time this season that the Jets had been on equal terms at half-time before going on to lose the game.

I think Saturday's hosts have enough in them to keep things level until the interval against Victory, but the quality of Diles' side should shine through in the second half, with the likes of Fornaroli, Arzana and Piscopo to come on if they need to step things up a few gears.

Anytime Goalscorer - Lachlan Rose (NEW) @ 11/5

Victory have kept back-to-back clean sheets but had shipped nine goals across their three previous games and if you fancy the Jets, who have scored in eight consecutive matches, to breach the visitors' defence on Saturday, look no further than Rose in the anytime goalscorer market.

The 25-year-old joined the Jets from Macarthur in the off-season and made his debut for the club in the Australia Cup, making two appearances before picking up an injury that left him sidelined until December.

Rose made his ALM debut for the Jets on December 7 in a 1-0 defeat to Adelaide United but subsequently missed the next three games with another issue before returning to action on January 7, doing so in style as he struck the winner off the bench in a 1-0 win at Brisbane Roar.

The Jets attacker still hasn't started a game since December but in five substitute appearances this calendar year he has scored three goals, albeit all in away outings.

Now, though, is the time for Rose to formally introduce himself to the McDonald Jones crowd, and he may well be handed the chance to prove his worth from the start on Saturday.

Regardless of whether he begins the game or comes off the bench, he's likely to pose problems for the Victory defence, and at 11/5, is a tempting price to back for a fourth goal in six.

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