- Rockdale Ilinden FC have won all of the last 5 NPL New South Wales head-to-heads between these clubs, including a 3-2 victory at home three months ago.
- Blacktown City have won two, drawn one and lost five of their eight home league games, scoring 0.88 and conceding 1.50 goals per game.
Side with Rockdale for a crucial away win
Rockdale Ilinden FC are in favour for Sunday's NPL New South Wales clash at Blacktown City FC, and rightly so, as they have dominated this fixture in recent times. With 1.92 about the visitors' away win priced up a shade shorter than Blacktown City's 3.28 for the home triumph, there's plenty of value on Rockdale to take all three points.
The visitors are in the 5th spot in the table with 26 points from 17 games, while Sunday's hosts are stuck 15th with just 15 points from the same amount of fixtures. While Blacktown have only lost one of their last five league matches, they have also won just one, drawing three and losing once. Rockdale have fared slightly better, with one win, two draws and two defeats from their last five.
Blacktown are likely to line up in a solid 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, and have built their game around keeping ball in hand, dictating the tempo and creating chances from wide areas or set-pieces. Rockdale play a much more attacking and high-tempo system, preferring to press the opponents high up the pitch and push wide players forward, with a #10 to create chances and push the tempo.
Go for goals on both ends in this clash of styles
While the stats for both teams to score and over 2.5 match goals are short, they're still good value given the respective defensive frailties of both sides and the attacking nature of their set-up. Both lines are priced up at 1.39 and 1.41 respectively, which looks very generous considering how this matchup has played out in recent seasons. Blacktown have failed to win in their last two home games against Rockdale, and in a clash of contrasting styles, we're going for the high-flying visitors to continue their dominance of this fixture and nick the win.
