A-League Betting Preview: Brisbane Roar can continue play-off pursuit with win at Wellington Phoenix

Recommended bet: Match Result – Brisbane Roar to Win @ 23/20 (2.15) with Unibet

Bottom of the table Wellington Phoenix welcome playoff chasing Brisbane Roar to the Westpac Stadium on Sunday evening.

Phoenix are currently three points adrift at the foot of the table, not helped by a run that has seen them lose six of their last seven matches.  Last weekend they were beaten 1-0 at home by the high-flying Newcastle Jets.

By contrast, Roar have put themselves in with a shout at qualifying for the Elimination Finals after a run of five wins in their last seven matches.  It’s a run that included a 2-1 win away to defending champions Sydney FC last weekend, with early goals from Matt McKay and Jacob Pepper proving sufficient.

It was a victory that ended the Sky Blues 27-match unbeaten record on home soil in the A-League, stretching back almost two years, and took Roar to within a couple of points of Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers in the race for a top six finish.

The teams have already met twice in the league this term, with both matches ending all square.  The first game at the Westpac Stadium in late October finished as a 3-3 draws, with the visitors recovering from being 3-0 down inside 20-minutes to secure a point.  Six weeks later there was a more routine 0-0 draw at the CBUS Super Stadium.

Interim Phoenix coach has a number of selection issues to contend with, as five of his players – Michael McGlinchey, Tom Doyle, Alex Rufer, Matthew Ridenton and Sarpreet Singh – will be away on international duty with New Zealand.

So Roar are very much the form team, Phoenix will be missing several players as a result of international duty and the visitors also have the incentive of a top six finish to inspire them.  On top of that, Brisbane have been far better on their travels than they have been at home this season. To date, they have won five and lost just three of their 10 away fixtures.

It all suggests that Brisbane should be capable of coming away with the win, which can be backed at 23/20 (2.15) with Unibet.