AFTER a sensational night in the Champions League bookings king Gavin Murphy (@GamePlanGavin) is back with an early morning A-League pick.
Adelaide United v Melbourne City | Thursday 09:07 | BT Sport 1
Unlike 2014/15 when Adelaide United sparkled early, going undefeated for the first seven weeks, the Reds are in disarray, anchored to the bottom of the ladder following successive road beltings and in desperate need of a circuit-breaker.
There were a few small signs in last weekend's 3-0 loss to Brisbane Roar that United remains, statistically, the competition's premier passing club. However stylish, prolific ball movement means nothing if nobody is scoring.
Meanwhile, Melbourne City continue to excite and enrage in equal shares. These two teams get it on and it is a potentially season defining game for both.
The whisteblower is Kris Griffiths-Jones and interestingly he took charge of the corresponding tussle last season when he issued four yellows and two reds. He also did this fixture on another occasion recently and gave six that day. It's fair to say he has form!
When these two teams meet in Melbourne the cards have read three and four. However, it is very different when they clash in Adelaide with the most recent reading eight, 12 and six.
This season the hosts average 2.33 cards per game whereas Melbourne average 3.00. That gives a total of 5.33. Bet365 are going 5/6 on over 5.5 cards and that gets my vote given the history and what is at stake.
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Adelaide United v Melbourne City – Over 5.5 Cards (5/6 Bet365)
