A-League Round 29 Betting Tips - Auckland FC to head into Finals Series with yet another win

Get the latest betting tips and insight for Round 29 of the A-League as the final round of the regular season is played. 

It has been a long and difficult season for Central Coast, with their hopes of defending their title over. Sitting in 10th on the ladder, a win in this match will not likely be enough to see them move above the Newcastle Jets in ninth as they would need the Jets to lose and for a 20 goal swing across the two games. Just two wins in 12 home games along with a -13 goal difference shows this is incredibly unlikely. Meanwhile, the Roar can end their season on the back of a four-game unbeaten run if they beat the Mariners. Each of these games have been at home, meaning a win is unlikely. However, four draws on the road along with the home team drawing five of their 12 at home means I am backing a stalemate in this one. 

Melbourne City are looking to hold onto their place in second on the ladder, with all of Western United, Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory potentially able to leapfrog them. City boast seven wins at home this season, while they are unbeaten in their last five matches. Sydney FC can secure their place in the Finals Series with a draw, as their superior goal difference would see them move above Adelaide United, who have a bye for the final regular season weekend. However, Sydney FC have been patchy on the road, winning four, drawing four and losing four. They also arrive having lost 1-0 to Western United in their last away game. If Melbourne City had nothing on the line then the travelling side may have been my tip, but the fact City will likely need to win to keep hold of second-place means I am backing defeat for Sydney FC. 

Western United have been excellent this season, and they trail second-placed Melbourne City by a single point. A win in this one could see them leapfrog City if the latter fail to win. Wins in their last four at home papers over cracks that have seen United fail to win in six of their 12 on their own patch. They also arrive having lost two of their last three. Minor Premier winners Auckland FC arrive looking to extend their unbeaten run to 15 matches. The travelling side have only lost one of their 12 away games, winning seven and drawing four times. They also boast a 2-0 away win over their opponents the last time they played. While no side can catch them at the top of the ladder, Auckland FC will know the hard work has only just begun ahead of the Finals Series, and I back them to head into the semi-finals on the back of another win.