Central Coast Mariners vs Auckland Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Last season’s regular season winners Central Coast Mariners have underwhelmed in the opening couple of months of this campaign as they now take on league leaders Auckland.

Kick-off date/time: Saturday 28th December, 2024: UK – 6:00am / ET – 1:00am / Friday 27th December, 2024 - US PT – 10:00pm

How to watch on TV/online: UK – YouTube / US – ESPN / Australia – Paramount+

Central Coast Mariners Team News: Several issues

Former Carlisle United striker Ryan Edmondson is sidelined alongside fellow striker Nicholas Duarte and winger Miguel Di Pizio with defensive midfielder Brad Tapp also missing for the Central Coast Mariners.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Peraic-Cullen; Roux, Kaltack, Paull, Smith; McCalmont, Steele; Kuzevski, Doka, Eames; Kuol

Unavailable: Tapp (Injured), Duarte (Injured), Edmondson (Injured), Di Pizio (Injured)

Questionable: 

Auckland Team News: No Hall or Howieson

The New Zealanders, in their first ever season as a club, have a couple of injury issues to deal with ahead of their trip to the Central Coast Mariners as former Burnley midfielder Cameron Howieson remains sidelined alongside Daniel Hall.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Paulsen; Elliot, Sakai, Pijnaker, De Vries; Verstraete, Gallegos; Gillion, Brimmer, Neyder Moreno; May

Unavailable: Hall (Injured), Howieson (Injured)

Questionable: 

Central Coast Mariners vs Auckland Prediction

The Central Coast Mariners languish in the bottom-half of the 13-team Australian A League table ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures with two victories, four draws and two defeats in their eight matches so far this season. They most recently shared a 1-1 draw with ten-man Macarthur last weekend. They now face an Auckland side that, in their inaugural season, won their opening six matches but performances were declining before collecting just a point from their last two matches and siding with the Central Coast Mariners, especially with their home advantage, would appear a good value bet for this one.

Central Coast Mariners vs Auckland Tip: Double chance – Central Coast Mariners to win or draw