Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Prediction: Tips and Best Bets Preview

Our A-League expert, Matthew O’Regan, gives us his Perth Glory vs Melbourne City predictions, tips and best bets preview, with the visitors looking to make it four consecutive victories over the hosts.

Perth Glory are slipping further and further away from the playoffs with every defeat, while Melbourne City are chasing their fourth title, sitting just seven points off surprise leaders Wellington Phoenix. Friday morning’s sole fixture is set to be an entertaining one in the A-League.

Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Prediction and Tips Preview

1. Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Tip 1: Melbourne City Win and Over 1.5 Goals
2. Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Tip 2: Adam Taggart to Score Anytime
3. Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Tip 3: Steven Ugarkovic and Stefan Colakovski to be Booked

In this article:

• Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Team News
• Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Stats Preview
• How to watch Perth Glory vs Melbourne City
• Safer Gambling

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Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Tip 1: Leaky Perth

Australia , A-League , Friday, February 2nd, 10:45 (UK)

With Perth Glory sitting second bottom and nine points off the playoffs, it’s fair to say Alen Stajcic’s side is purely playing for pride in the last matches of the season.

There are many factors for Glory’s poor season, but perhaps the biggest concern is their defensive record, with Perth conceding a league-high 31 goals – an average of 2.2 per game. They have only kept one clean sheet all season, which was 12 games ago, and have conceded two or more goals in 12/14 games.

While last year’s beaten A-League finalists have yet to replicate last season’s performances, Melbourne City have still enjoyed a good season and currently occupy the final playoff spot. With no upcoming AFC Champions League distractions, Aurelio Vidmar’s side can fully focus on the league as they attempt to qualify for the playoffs yet again.

City currently sit on 21 points after 14 games, scoring 25 goals and conceding 21 in the process. Over the last ten games, Melbourne ranks fourth in the league, scoring 19 goals in this period.

When these sides faced off at HBF Park earlier in the season, Melbourne ran out 2-1 winners and will be confident of repeating this on Friday. However, with Perth Glory scoring in 13/14 games this season, Melbourne City might need a couple of goals to make sure of the victory.

• Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Tip 1: Melbourne City Win and Over 1.5 Goals
• Best Odds: 1.83
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Melbourne City vs Perth Glory Tip 2: Clinical Taggart

As I mentioned earlier, despite their defensive fragilities, Perth Glory has scored in all but one game and possesses one of the best strikers in the league, Adam Taggart.

The 30-year-old has scored eight goals in 12 starts, only failing to score twice in his last eight games. Taggart is averaging a 0.73 xG per 90, as well as 4.43 shots and 2.00 shots on target per 90.

In their six away games thus far, Melbourne City have kept just one clean sheet, so Perth will fancy their chances of scoring.

At the time of writing, it is unclear if Taggart has recovered from the injury that kept him out of the 2-2 draw with Macarthur. If he is fit, Taggart will look to score his ninth of the season against a club he has already scored against this campaign.

• Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Tip 2: Adam Taggart to Score Anytime
• Best Odds: 2.87
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 7/10

Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Tip 3: Card Double

Despite plying his trade as a striker, Stefan Colakovski is not shy of a yellow card, picking up four yellows in 13 appearances (seven starts), including one in the last outing against Macarthur. The 23-year-old is averaging 1.31 fouls per 90 and has also been booked for dissent already. Interestingly, in all competitions, ten forwards have been cautioned against Melbourne City this season, with the physical defensive duo of Samuel Souprayen and Curtis Good liking physical battles.

Steven Ugarkovic is another player with four yellows in all competitions. The 29-year-old has also been booked in two of his last three games. Ugarkovic averages 1.42 fouls per 90, making at least one foul in 16/19 appearances.

• Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Tip 3: Stefan Colakovski and Steven Ugarkovic to be Booked
• Best Odds: Awaiting Odds
• Bookmaker: bet354
• Stake: 1/10

Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Prediction odds via bet365 as at 22:00, January 28th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

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Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Team News Preview: Touch and Go for Taggart

Star striker Adam Taggart missed the 2-2 draw with Macarthur FC with an unknown injury, so it remains to be seen if he is back fit for this game. Other than that, only centre-back duo Jacob Muir and Mark Beevers miss out for the hosts.

The visitors are missing a host of players for different reasons. Left-back Aziz Behich is on international duty with Australia. Centre-back Samuel Souprayen and creative maestro Marin Jakolis have joined long-term absentee Mathew Leckie on the injury list.

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Perth Glory vs Melbourne City Stats Preview: Leaky defences

• Perth Glory have the leakiest defence in the league- conceding 31
• Perth Glory have kept just one clean sheet this season
• Perth Glory have won just one of the last six meetings
• Melbourne City have won the last three matches vs Perth, scoring 2+ in all three
• Melbourne City rank second for away xG (1.75)

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How To Watch

• Perth Glory vs Melbourne City, A League.
• Date and Time: Friday February 2nd 10:45 (UK)
• How to Watch or Stream on TV (UK): Tnt Sports

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SAFER GAMBLING

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.