Comeback club Melbourne Heart proved there’s no stopping the run for finals as they came off last week’s annihilation of Melbourne Victory 4-0.
The Melbourne derby, usually known for being extremely uneventful, managed the opposite this time, and finally gave Heart the news they were hoping for.
For the first time in the season, they don’t sit at the bottom of the ladder, moving ahead of Perth Glory, sitting on 24 points. They are just four points away from the top six spot and so close to finals berth they can feel it.
The tables have turned now, and the league leaders will be shaking in their boots coming up against the Heart. It’s a drastic change from just a couple of months ago where the football world of Australia had the club down as a write-off.
The change is thanks to coach John van’t Schip, who has managed to do something even the more in-form clubs haven’t been able to do. They’ve taken wins off ladder leaders Brisbane Roar, while also managing a seven match run without a loss.
“For me the most important thing is the turn around of the boys; that we’re playing again, that the fans are proud of the club and the players are proud of the way they’re playing,” van’t Schip said about the club’s performance last week.
“It’s a big difference getting used to winning and they were getting used to losing … fortunately we have turned that around. It’s been done with a lot of hard work.”
They’re up against Newcastle Jets tonight, and with both teams securing great wins the week before, it could be anyone’s game. The Jets took an impressive and unexpected 2-0 win against second on the ladder, Western Sydney Wanderers, last round.
Also on quite a bit of a comeback is Adelaide United, who managed an amazing 5-1 win against Wellington Phoenix last week. They’re hoping to keep the momentum going, but up against Brisbane Roar it might not happen.
Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers have a derby this week, and both have come off embarrassing losses.
Sydney slumped to an 11th loss last week – more defeats than any other team in the league – but hopes the added energy from the derby will change things.
Melbourne Victory will miss six first-team regulars in tonight’s match against Central Coast Mariners.
Mark Milligan and Tom Rogic won’t arrive back from Australia duty in time for the match, while Nick Ansell’s suspension and Adrian Leijer’s facial injuries rule them out. Kosta Barbarouses is back on Friday after representing New Zealand and will most probably be sidelined.