Sydney FC head to Brisbane with hopes of ending their nine-game winless run and maintaining the pressure on sixth-placed Melbourne Victory.
Can Sydney turn their season around?
Sydney’s season looks all but mathematically over after a shock loss to Wellington and frustrating draw with Central Coast, but Melbourne Victory’s poor outing against Brisbane Roar and draw with Newcastle has left the door slightly ajar for the Sky Blues. However, without a win in their last nine games (nearing a club record of 10) Sydney are running out of time. That said, teams coached by Graham Arnold are known for rising to the occasion when least expected and a tough trip to Queensland presents such an opportunity. Their first half against the Mariners and Champions League performances show there is talent, but this weekend it needs to click or they will simply be out of time.
READ MORE: Three key talking points – Melbourne Victory vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Brisbane chasing Sky Blues clean sweep
While the Sky Blues head to Queensland looking for their first win in over two months, Brisbane will be planning on picking up their second clean sweep of Sydney in three seasons with both a 0-0 draw and 3-1 win at Allianz Stadium earlier in the campaign. And it is not only form that has the Roar the favourites for the win this weekend, with the side picking up nine wins in its 15 home meetings with Sydney, netting 23 goals in that period. Further, in the home side’s favour is its impressive form at Suncorp, where it has managed nine wins from 14 games this campaign (75% of their overall victories).
CrownBet match odds at time of publishing
Is Graham Arnold’s job under threat?
While the season’s end comes ever closer and Sydney look more and more a side that will fail to finish in the top six, the question has to be asked: how secure is Graham Arnold’s position? With the Sky Blues having a reputation for disposing of coaches quicker than any other A-League side, failure to finish in the six, and the spectacular style in which Sydney may well do, has history dictating Arnold’s time may be up, particularly when their form comes largely down to recruitment failures. However, the former Socceroos boss may have a saving grace in his impressive track record in the league, having never finished outside the top two previously, and of course Sydney’s AFC Champions League form. But whether he will be around later in the year is certainly a hot topic should the Sydneysiders fall again this weekend.
*CrownBet odds at time of publishing are subject to change.
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