- Perth RedStar are unbeaten in five U23 NPL WA games, winning three and drawing two, and have been hitting the net multiple times per game.
- Western Knights have a recent psychological advantage in this fixture after smashing RedStar 5-1 earlier this season.
- Western Knights have a -13 goal difference, which makes their seventh-placed position in the table somewhat surprising.
RedStar look to keep Knights at bay
This Saturday's clash between second-placed Perth RedStar and seventh-placed Western Knights could be pivotal in the U23 NPL Western Australia. With RedStar in top-three position with 22 points from 12 games, and Knights sitting on 14 points, this fixture has everything to play for.
Callum Salmon's RedStar have a distinct possession-based approach, prioritising youth development and structured, disciplined play. They play an attacking brand of football, but it's not necessarily a free-flowing or expansive style; instead, RedStar are a team that builds from the back, patiently building from midfield before striking quickly in the final third.
Jack Connolly is their reliable goalscorer, finding the net on a regular basis and providing the winner in tight matches, but he is not alone in his contribution to RedStar's attack. Teddie Curran's dynamism in midfield provides a focal point for RedStar's attacking play, and also provides goals, while Abrahim Fofana provides late-game finishing prowess for a front line that shares the goals around.
Adam Kostrencic's Knights, on the other hand, are a much more direct side, relying on quick transitions and aggressive, physical wing play to create turnovers and break at pace. Their attack is less structured, relying on a handful of finishers to make their mark when they get into the box. Konstantinos (Sparta) and Jesse Lazzaro have been involved in their best attacking play, and often get the ball for set pieces and finishing chances.
Punters should expect goals from both sides
The sheer differences between these sides mean that their head-to-head encounters are usually a chess match; possession and tempo versus transition and aggression, with the battle of midfield and the wings often determining the victor.
Knights hold the largest margin of victory, battering RedStar 5-1 back in March 2026. The Knights' result sheet has been mixed, with three defeats in a row, including a 10-0 thrashing by Perth Glory II, but also two big wins, including that 5-1 smashing of RedStar, and a 2-0 win over Armadale.
With RedStar unbeaten in their last five, including a 3-1 win at Fremantle City and a 4-0 rout of Armadale, the hosts should have the momentum to see out another win in this contest. The 1.47 price for RedStar to win makes no sense, considering Western Knights' 5.17 and the draw at 4.4.
RedStar should edge an exciting encounter
The odds for 'Both teams to score - Yes' are also strongly favored, at 1.49, which is surprising considering both sides' attacking approach, and their respective recent results. We're going for that market, although a 2-0 or 2-1 RedStar win looks most likely.
The Knights' approach is liable to work when they catch the opposition off guard, which makes a high-scoring encounter possible if RedStar take their eye off the ball. However, the hosts have enough attacking depth to score goals, and enough defensive quality to keep the Knights at arm's length.
We're expecting a good day for football in Perth on Saturday, which should see these two sides put on a good show for the fans.
