Competition: A-League

Market: Newcastle Jets win

Odds: 20/21 @ BetUS

Hoping to extend their stay at the top of the A-League table this weekend, Newcastle will welcome Macarthur to McDonald Jones Stadium.

Starting with the hosts, while Newcastle might have spent the whole of last season scrapping it out at the foot of the A-League standings, the Jets have firmly cemented their spot as Australia’s ultimate surprise package this time around. Last seen putting in another sensational performance as they stormed their way to a thumping 3-1 victory against Perth, Mark Milligan’s high-flying squad are remarkably leading the chase at the top of the table and they have continued to shatter a string of long-standing records. Signing off January with a 4-1 romp at home against Brisbane, Newcastle are riding a remarkable wave of momentum. In fact, including an action-packed 3-2 win against Adelaide earlier in the month, Sunday’s hosts have now won all of their previous seven consecutive A-League showdowns. Looking to make another major title statement this weekend, Milligan’s record-breaking squad have also gained a fearsome reputation for their free-scoring performances in the final third.

As for the visitors, watching their AFC Champions League adventure come to a downbeat end earlier in the week as they fell to a 4-2 aggregate defeat against Thailand outfit Bangkok United, Macarthur find themselves at the heart of a real struggle. Last seen in A-League action playing out a 2-2 stalemate at home against Perth, the Bulls have come tumbling down the A-League standings and they look set for what will be another stern examination when they travel across New South Wales this weekend. Including a routine 3-0 drumming when they welcomed Sydney to the Campbelltown Stadium back on January 10th, Sunday’s guests have recorded just a single win from any of their previous eight appearances across all competitions – a run that stems back to New Year’s Day. Showing some extended defensive issues and shipping a pair of goals in four of their last five outings, Macarthur are pencilled in as a real underdog contender here.

Bet: Newcastle Jets 20/21 to beat Macarthur FC in Sunday’s A-League battle @ BetUS