Soccer / Andy Morris / 07 January 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Tuesday's meeting of the big two in the A-League, Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United, could turn out to be crucial in the battle for the top.

If Adelaide had managed to pick up a point - and I don't feel they deserved to - then they would have been level on points with Victory at the top, and with a game in hand.

But now it looks as though Melbourne could go on and secure the Premier's plate this season as they have the easiest run-in. Two of their remaining three games are at home, and they will be confident of winning their last away match which comes this round against Perth Glory.

The big match failed to live up to the hype, but Melbourne won't worry about that, it was all about the result as far as they were concerned and they deserved the win as much for the way they kept Adelaide at arm's length in the final half hour as for their solitary goal through Nicky Ward.

This round kicks off with Adelaide's third game in a week as they host the Newcastle Jets. And it would take the most one-eyed of Newcastle fans to see their team coming away with anything from this match at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The Jets are languishing at the foot of the ladder with just three wins all season, and they were beaten 2-0 by United at the same ground back in Round 6.

Newcastle did come very close to gaining revenge at EnergyAustralia Stadium in late November when they led until the 94th minute before Sasa Ognenovski popped up with an equaliser to leave it all square at 1-1.

The Jets have shown occasional flashes of the kind of form that won them the Grand Final last season - like their 4-2 win over Melbourne just before Christmas, where Matt Thompson scored a hat-trick. But that was the only time they have avoided defeat in their last five, and they go into this one on the back of a poor performance when they were beaten 3-0 by Wellington last time out.

It all points to an Adelaide win this time, one of the easiest picks in A-League betting of the season to my mind.

The Phoenix win over Newcastle meant the issue about who will claim the fourth spot on the ladder is still unresolved. Though one look at the remaining fixture list of the two contenders - Wellington and Queensland - will tell you who should be playing finals football.

Wellington have to hope that Central Coast can do them a favour this round and secure three points against the Roar. Because the Kiwis are still a point behind, with a much inferior goal difference, and have played a game more than Queensland.

The Roar will finish with two successive home games, against Sydney FC and Perth, while Wellington have to take on Adelaide at home then travel to face Melbourne in the final home-and-away match of the season.

Queensland know they are in the box seat and will be eager for the win at Bluetongue Stadium to put further pressure on the New Zealanders. They lost last time out in Melbourne, but had gone into that game on a five-match unbeaten run and won't have been too downcast by their failure against the Victory on a difficult pitch.

The Mariners scored an early season 4-2 win in Brisbane, while the return last month was a 1-1 draw with Central Coast netting a late equaliser. The Mariners won't believe their place in the top four is set in stone quite yet so they will be all out for a win in this one, and I feel the two sides might cancel each other out. I am backing the draw in match odds.

Simply speaking, the Phoenix will feel that they have to win all their three remaining games to make the top four. But they have been too inconsistent to have much faith in, and I think they will fail at the first hurdle.

They travel to the Sydney Football Stadium seeking three points but I feel will come away with none. Admittedly, they have beaten Sydney twice already this season - winning 2-1 both home and away - but their win on the road in Round 11 was only courtesy of a late Shane Smeltz penalty.

Sydney have lost their last four matches going into this one, and their chances of making the top four have now gone. But they have shown this season that they can rise to the occasion. Sure, most of their good form came early on when they were in the top two but their home fans will get behind them to make sure the campaign doesn't end in a whimper and I fancy them to get up over the Phoenix by a single goal. So I am taking them with an A-League bet in match odds.

Melbourne are on a high after three straight wins, and they will travel to Perth believing the points are there for the taking. Glory have lost their last two matches, so the form suggests the Victory will come through and maintain their charge for top spot.

Eugene Dadi scored twice as Perth beat Melbourne at Members Equity Stadium in Round 14 but I think the visitors have the momentum and I am backing them in match odds betting.

Tips: Adelaide to beat Newcastle, Central Coast to draw with Queensland, Sydney to beat Wellington, Melbourne to beat Perth.