- St. George Saints are in poor form, losing their last five, including back-to-back defeats at home to Sydney United 58 (1-3) and St George City (0-1).
- Sutherland Shire Sharks have won their last two league games, beating Spirit FC 1-0 at home and Sydney United 58 0-1 away.
- St. George Saints have won two of the last three head-to-head meetings, drawing the other, a 1-0 away victory three months ago.
Sharks could shatter Saints’ spirit with another away victory
Sutherland Shire Sharks look more likely to edge Saturday's local derby against St. George Saints at JJ Gallagher Field based on momentum and the current league standings where the visitors sit a much healthier 7th to the hosts' 14th after 17 games. Sharks have taken 23 points from 17 matches, enough to place them mid-table, but a top-half finish would be a huge achievement for David Perkovic.
Perkovic has moulded the Sharks into a well-drilled, attack-minded unit that patiently build from the back and look to spread the ball wide to their dynamic runners, who also offer a set-piece threat. St. George Saints have a similar structure-first approach, but rely on their experience and discipline to frustrate opponents, particularly in midfield where the experienced central midfielder brings balance and control.
There is little to split these two teams on paper, but the Sharks' current form has them priced as favourites at 2.33, with Saints at 2.61 and the draw available at 3.32. However, our recommendation here is to take 'Under 2.5 goals' at 1.9 as the best way to make money on this local derby because both teams are solid at the back and the last two have been low-scoring.
Side with the Sharks to nick it
Saints are near the bottom of the league for a reason and have picked up just three wins and five defeats from eight home league fixtures so far this season, averaging 1.00 goals per game, but also conceding an average of 1.62 goals per match.
Brian 'Bomber' Brown took over as head coach of the Saints in May, and they have been on a five-game losing skid. Two of those defeats came at this venue, so it looks as though Perkovic's men may have the momentum and the quality to nick this one.
Sutherland have picked up three wins, two draws and suffered four defeats from their nine away league fixtures, averaging 1.11 goals scored per game and conceding an average of 1.22 per match. But they have failed to win in their last two trips to face the Saints, struggling to break down the home side's block.
And that is where the match-up will be won and lost on Saturday, with Saints' compact structure set to be tested by the Sharks' wide runners and ability to create chances from set-pieces.
