Western Sydney Wanderers vs Central Coast Mariners Tips & Prediction - Wanderers set for first win of the season

It's been a tough start to the season for the Wanderers, but they didn't receive the kindest draw, with their last three games coming on the road. Refreshed and recharged after the international break, Western Sydney now have a great opportunity to get their season up and running against the Mariners, who have - in my opinion - enjoyed a fortuitous start to their campaign to pick up seven points from their four games and sitting in fifth spot on the ladder.

Central Coast really should have lost their opening game to the Jets before being outclassed 2-0 by Sydney FC. The Mariners then drew at home with Wellington (Andrew Redmayne kept them in the game with several masterful saves) before edging out resident battlers Perth before the break. Western Sydney took a point from reigning champions Melbourne City in their only previous home game and they will be determined to make a statement here. If the Wanderers don't win this, then coach Alen Stajcic is in big trouble...

The Mariners have enjoyed the recent success between these sides, going unbeaten in eight of the last 10 encounters and winning three of the last four. However, the Wanderers registered a crushing 4-0 victory in the most-recent clash in Round 20 of last season.

It's been a rough start to the season for the Wanderers, who find themselves languishing in 11th spot on the ladder after four rounds, above only the embattled Perth Glory.

After suffering a heavy loss to Heidelberg United in the Australia Cup during preseason, the Wanderers have gone winless across their opening four games - however, as mentioned, they have been forced on the road in their last three outings.

Western Sydney launched their campaign with a solid 1-1 draw against Melbourne City before going down 1-0 across the ditch against Auckland. The Wanderers picked up a point in another 1-1 draw with Macarthur before a 2-0 defeat against Adelaide before the break.

Stajcic will hope his team will come out firing after two weeks preparation here - the likes of Kosta Barbarouses, Alou Kuol, Bozhidar Kraev, Brandon Borrello and Angus Thurgate are all proven at A-League level and need to step it up if the Wanderers are to start making an impact.

Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 2. Gabriel CLEUR, 3. Alexander GERSBACH, 4. Alexander BONETIG, 5. Dylan SCICLUNA, 6. Mohamed AL-TAAY, 8. Steven UGARKOVIC, 9. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 17. Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 19. Ruon TONGYIK, 20. Lawrence THOMAS, 21. Aydan HAMMOND, 22. Anthony PANTAZOPOULOS, 23. Bozhidar KRAEV, 24. Nathan BARRIE, 25. Joshua BRILLANTE, 30. Jordan HOLMES , 31. Aidan SIMMONS, 32. Angus THURGATE, 39. Awan LUAL, 45. Alou KUOL

After a disappointing season last term and parting ways with their manager on the eve of this season, not much was expected of the Mariners to launch the campaign.

However, to their credit, Central Coast have dug deep and produced some resilient football, coming into Round 5 in fifth spot on the ladder with a 2-1-1 record.

The Mariners conjured up a houdini-like escape against the Jets in their opening game, saving a penalty in injury time before going down the other end and scoring a late winner for a 3-2 triumph.

Central Coast were outclassed by Sydney 2-0 in their next game, but a brilliant performance from Redmayne in goal (making seven world class saves) saw them grab a point in a 1-1 draw against Wellington.

The Mariners then piled more misery on struggling Perth, with 20-year-old academy graduate Bailey Brandtman scoring his maiden A-League goal in a 1-0 win on the road.

Central Coast Mariners squad: 2. James DONACHIE, 3. Nathan PAULL, 5. Lucas MAURAGIS, 7. Christian THEOHAROUS, 8. Alfie McCALMONT, 9. Ryan EDMONDSON, 10. Miguel DI PIZIO, 11. Sabit NGOR, 14. Nico DUARTE, 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Harrison STEELE, 20. Will KENNEDY, 21. Abdul FAISAL, 22. Arthur DE LIMA, 26. Bradley TAPP, 27. Alexi HOURIDIS, 30. Andrew REDMAYNE, 37. Bailey BRANDTMAN, 41. Shumba MUTOKOYI, 50. Jai AJANOVIC