Sydney FC vs Perth Glory Prediction: Slow starters to nudge in front against whipping boys

Sydney FC host Perth Glory at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday (KO, 06:00), knowing that a victory over the Australian A-League Men's bottom side could earn them a home Elimination Final next month.

The Glory, meanwhile, are playing for nothing but pride after they collected their second wooden spoon in three years last weekend. Sunday's game can be watched live in the UK on TNT Sports 5, and you can build up to it by reading my Sydney FC vs Perth Glory prediction below.

Sydney FC lost 1-0 at Macarthur FC last week, and they now trail the fourth-placed Bulls by three points. Ufuk Talay's side now need Wellington Phoenix to beat Macarthur on Saturday and follow it up with a win of their own the following day.

Fourth place will earn the Sky Blues a home Elimination Final, but they could end Sunday as low as sixth if they fail to beat Perth Glory and Melbourne City triumph over Western Sydney Wanderers.

That would set up an away Elimination Final against third, which would be either Melbourne Victory or Macarthur.

The Glory's bottom-place finish was confirmed last week with a 4-3 defeat to Western United, who are now four points clear of Alen Stajcic's side.

The Perth club are winless in their last nine games, a run that stretches back to mid-February, and they have lost their last three matches, conceding a combined 16 goals.

Team News

Sydney FC are still without injured duo Pat Wood and Gus Hoefsloot, but Jordan Courtney-Perkins and Jake Girdwood-Reich have returned from Olyroos duty at the AFC U23 Asian Cup in Qatar.

There could be a farewell appearance for Jack Rodwell at the Sydney Football Stadium, as the former England international is yet to agree terms on a new contract.

Perth Glory are missing the injured trio of Mark Beevers, Adam Zimarno and Antonis Martis, but goalkeeper Cameron Cook is back from Olyroos duty and will be joined in the squad by the returning Joel Anasmo and Bruce Kamau.

Match Odds

Sydney FC are 4/11 to beat Sunday's opponents for the second time this season, having already beaten them 3-2 at the Sydney Football Stadium in December. That gives them an implied win probability of 73.3%, while Perth Glory can be backed at 11/2 (15.4%) to end a dismal season on a high.

The previous head-to-head ended in a 1-1 draw in Perth last month, and you can back another stalemate at 18/5, and a repeat of the 1-1 scoreline at 11/1.

First half correct score - Sydney FC 1-0 @ 3/1

This selection may seem a little surprising given the high-scoring defeats suffered by Perth Glory of late, but there is some logic to it.

Sydney FC have been pretty slow starters at home, certainly across their last seven games at the Sydney Football Stadium.

They've gone in goalless at half-time in their last three there, while the four before that saw them take a 1-0 lead into the interval.

Perth Glory were thrashed 8-0 by Melbourne City on their last away outing, shipping five in the first 45 minutes, but before that had only been losing 1-0 at half-time at Melbourne Victory and went in goalless against Western United prior to that.

I think Sydney FC will get a goal in front before half-time on Sunday, but that could be all it is before they step things up a notch in the second half.

Adam Taggart to score anytime @ 7/5

The A-League Men's leading scorer will be desperate to keep hold of that tag as he looks to earn the second Golden Boot of his career.

Adam Taggart has struck 19 times in 24 appearances so far this season, bagging a brace in two of his last three matches, including last week's 4-3 defeat to Western United.

The Australia international scored at the Sydney Football Stadium in December as the Glory lost 3-2, and he might feel like he needs a goal or two to keep in front of Melbourne Victory's Bruno Fornaroli, who is just one behind in the scoring charts and will have the advantage of at least an extra game in the finals.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.