Perth Glory vs Central Coast Mariners Prediction: Taggart to make amends for previous profligacy

Two sides without a win in their last three games face off at HBF Park on Friday (10:45, TNT Sports 1) as Perth Glory play host to Central Coast Mariners in the Australian A-League Men's.

Below is my Perth Glory vs Central Coast Mariners prediction, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Perth Glory have welcomed Anas Hamzaoui, Brandon O'Neill, Nathanael Blair and Khoa Ngo back into their extended squad for the visit of Central Coast Mariners on Friday.

However, Zach Lisolajski and Jaylan Pearman, who started last Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Melbourne Victory, and Adam Bugarija, who was an unused substitute at HBF Park, are unavailable as they are on international duty, while David Williams (knee), Andriano Lebib and Lachie Barr (both unspecified) are out injured.

Japanese defender Yuto Misao and Australian attacker Lachlan Wales have each made two substitute appearances for David Zdrilic's side since joining in January and could make their full debuts in purple this week.

Football Odds

Miguel Di Pizio is named in a Central Coast Mariners ALM squad for the first time this season after recovering from the knee injury he suffered in August's 3-1 Australia Cup defeat to Heidelberg. The 19-year-old is joined in the extended squad by Lucas Mauragis, who has missed the Mariners' last six matches.

Logan Sambrook and Michael Paragalli are the unfortunate duo to make way, while Brad Tapp (knee), Alfie McCalmont and Nicholas Duarte (both unspecified) remain in the treatment room for the visitors.

Perth Glory vs Central Coast Mariners Odds

Perth Glory are 21/10 to pick up a vital victory in their quest to avoid back-to-back wooden spoons, which implies a win probability of 32.2%, while the Mariners are 11/10, or a 47.6% chance, to claim all three points in the City of Light.

The draw is priced at 23/10, both teams to score at 4/7, and over 2.5 total goals at 4/6.

Perth forward Adam Taggart (13/10) is favourite in the anytime goalscorer market followed by Mariners pair Alou Kuol (6/4) and Ryan Edmondson (13/8).

Bet Builder - Adam Taggart (PGL) Anytime Goalscorer, Draw or Central Coast Mariners to Win (Double Chance) @ 3/1

Quite how Taggart didn't get on the scoresheet last weekend, I don't know. The 31-year-old shot six times, forcing two saves from the goalkeeper and seeing an effort hooked off the goal line by a defender.

A goal against Victory would've made it three games in a row with one after previously netting against Western Sydney Wanderers and Newcastle Jets, a strike against the latter making it five for the season, solid numbers considering the Glory's struggles this term.

Last season's Golden Boot winner failed to score in his first six league appearances in 2024/25 but has struck five times post-Christmas and looks to be back to his best now.

Taggart has scored six times against the Mariners in his career, five of those coming with the Glory, and he was on target the last time Mark Jackson's side visited HBF Park in November 2023.

The odds of Taggart scoring aren't particularly appealing on their own, however, which has led me to pair the selection with the double chance result on the Mariners, and combined, we get a much nicer 3/1.

CCM are winless in their last three games, but they have all ended in draws, and their most recent loss was on January 11 at Sydney FC (4-1), which remains the only defeat they have suffered in their previous seven matches.

The Glory, meanwhile, have won just twice all season, the first victory of which came against league stragglers Brisbane Roar on December 12. Since then, they've won just once in seven games, and that victory was nearly a month ago now.

Friday's hosts aren't helped by several absences with the loss of 16-year-old Pearman, who has made himself an integral member of Zdrilic's starting XI in recent weeks, particularly painful, while the Mariners should be made stronger by the returns of Di Pizio and Mauragis.

Total Goals - Over 2.5 @ 4/6

Six of the Mariners' last eight ALM games have had four or more goals and 63 per cent (10) of their 16 matches this season have seen over 2.5 goals, a record matched by the Glory.

Furthermore, five of CCM's last seven away outings in the league have ended with at least three goals scored, and three of the last five head-to-heads between them and the Glory have seen over 2.5 goals land.

With Taggart leading the line for the hosts and supported by Pat Wood and Wales, and the visitors fielding the likes of Edmondson and Mikael Doka, I'm confident we will see a few strikes on Friday, so over 2.5 goals looks like a sensible line.

Offers

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