A-League previews: must-win derby

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ROAR on a run, the must-win Melbourne derby and how will Perth react? Here are (some of) your Rd11 A-League previews.

Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets

8pm, Friday 20 December

Live on Fox Sports 1

If winning when you're playing badly is the mark of champions, then Brisbane has to be considered favourites for the A-League title this season. After another ugly win against Wellington, Mike Mulvey's side are on a four-game winning streak, one shy of equalling the club record. And if they do that against Newcastle, they'll also be the first club to claim 100 A-League victories.

Still not convinced? The Roar has conceded just three goals in their last eight home games, have the league's best shots on target percentage, average the most shots per game and have won six straight at Suncorp.

A daunting trip for Newcastle then? Maybe not - the Jets have four wins in their last six matches and have won two of their last three away games.

You'd certainly favour the home team but don't count on the Jets making it easy for them.

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Melbourne Heart v Melbourne Victory

7.45pm, Saturday 21 December

Live on Fox Sports 1

Is this Melbourne Heart's biggest derby yet? There are a mountain of question marks and a lot of scrutiny on Heart coach John Aloisi - but that hasn't completely distracted from Victory's inconsistent form of late.

Heart's stats are almost common knowledge by now: without a win in 15, one clean sheet in 17 and 18 goals conceded in 10 games.

Victory has only two in its last five but the numbers from its season suggest Blue will overcome Red this weekend: Kevin Muscat's side average the second most shots per game and the most balls into the penalty area.

But this is all about John Aloisi - can he turn it around for the derby and what happens if not?

Simon Hill says: "We've been asking this for a few weeks, we just don't know. Heart have been teetering on the brink for a while now because some of the performances have been pretty good.

"We saw in the second half against Sydney and certainly against Adelaide that Melbourne Heart have the quality but they're unable to put it together for 90 minutes. Sooner or later they have to start winning or the pressure on John will be untenable. If they lose heavily in the derby, that could be curtains."

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Perth Glory v Adelaide United

4pm, Sunday 22 December

Live on Fox Sports 1

Last week it was Reds coach Josep Gombau making all the headlines. This week it was Alistair Edwards for Perth Glory.

The rights and wrongs of a club sacking its coach because of player power can be discussed all day but what's certain is now the club has to start all over again. Glory fans must be fed up of this story by now.

Despite a somewhat miserable record overall this season - Glory has won only one of its last six games - nib Stadium has remained something of a fortress, losing only once at home this season (a very late defeat by the Mariners).

Adelaide, in contrast, has endured a far worse start to the season yet still has its coach. Despite the big win against the Mariners last week, this is the Reds' second-worst start to a season, and they are yet to win an away game. In fact, Adelaide has won just once in its last 14 games on the road, and been outscored 28-14 in this run.

Simon Hill says: "I'm interested to see the reaction of the Glory supporters; are they backing the players, are they backing Alistair Edwards? And what of the new coach, we here it's Kenny Lowe in the interim. For a club that was ticking along quite nicely suddenly they've got all sorts of problems and Adelaide must be grateful that they can fly under the radar ahead of this game."

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