Macarthur vs Wellington Phoenix Preview & Tips - Phoenix to end season with loss to Macarthur

Wellington Phoenix beat bottom of the ladder WS Wanderers 2-1 in their last outing as they bounced back from a 2-0 loss to Melbourne City. 

Macarthur have won four of their last 10 against the Phoenix with the latter winning the other six meetings. 

Macarthur went into their penultimate game of the regular season against Adelaide United knowing they needed a win to keep themselves in contention for a top six spot. This made their 3-1 loss even more painful as they were denied the points. 

Defeat means they sit in ninth on 31 points, two points short of next opponents Wellington Phoenix in seventh, while they are six short of Melbourne Victory in sixth. While their -11 goal difference in comparison to Victory's +9 meant securing a top six spot was unlikely even with a win, they would have preferred to have had something to play for on the final day rather than their dead rubber against the Phoenix. 

While they are unable to secure a top six spot, they could finish as high as seventh with a win, and I back them to hand their opponents an 11th loss of the season in one final victory this term. 

Wellington Phoenix may have beaten WS Wanderers 2-1 in their last outing, but this could not ensure they arrive for the final weekend with a top six spot to play for. 

Ultimately, their 2-0 loss to Melbourne City was the result that buried any hopes of a playoff berth this season. A win in that game would have seen City slide down to seventh on the ladder with Phoenix moving up to sixth with 36 points. However, as it is, Wellington's defeat to City means the travelling side have little other than a shot at seventh place to aim for. 

While both sides will be keen to ensure they finish as high on the ladder as possible, Wellington have found away games very tough his season. A 2-0 loss to City in their last match on the road comes alongside three other defeats, four draws and four wins. With their season now over with regard to a playoff berth, I am backing the Phoenix to slip to one final defeat.