It’s the last in a hat-trick of home games for Ange Postecoglou’s boys
Saturday 23rd October 7:45pm
Suncorp Stadium
It-s the last in a hat-trick of home games for Ange Postecoglou-s boys. Get ready to Roar your side on as they seek revenge against Victory!…
Considering last year-s poor campaign, it-s been an almost unbelievable start to the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season for Brisbane Roar. Ange Postecoglou, who last week celebrated a year in the job, has got his young team playing some beautiful football as they continue their assault on the top-end of the ladder, with only all-conquering Adelaide standing between them and the top spot.
However, while they have been defending brilliantly and, recently, raining shots in on the oppositions- goal, there is one result that notably blots their otherwise outstanding record this season. Last month-s trip to AAMI Park for the clash with Melbourne Victory saw Roar on the wrong end of an absolute spanking.
While the mistake-ridden and lacklustre performance in the 3-0 defeat was out of character in the context of their Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season, it continued a wider trend in regard to the head-to-heads between the sides. Simply, over the past couple of years, Roar just haven-t been able to beat Melbourne Victory.
The Queenslanders haven-t overturned Victory since all the way back in September 2008, a run of seven Hyundai A-League matches which includes no fewer than six Melbourne wins. So, this Saturday, Roar are going all out to turn the tide and get their own back on Victory – and they want another big turnout to help them do it. Fill Suncorp with the kind of colour and noise that will spur your boys on to finally beat a Victory team that is currently on a real high.
What a difference one result can make to the disposition of Melbourne Victory-s massive army of supporters. After the first ever Melbourne derby, the navy blue side of the city was inconsolable. With Victory keen to stamp its authority over the new-boys, the 2-1 defeat was a massive letdown, as it not only placed Heart well and truly on the Hyundai A-League map but also gave stripes fans bragging rights in Melbourne-s pubs.
It was a tough thing to recover from. However, eight days later, Victory fans were walking tall, having already put their derby misery behind them. There isn-t much that could alter their mood so quickly, but a 3-0 thrashing of their long-standing rivals from New South Wales is one such thing, What a way to banish those post-derby blues in front of over 17,000 raucous supporters! Ernie Merrick will be hoping the result – and the manner of their performance – will kick-start their stuttering season and that Victory will now find a consistency that has been lacking so far.
Hitting three goals will be of massive relief to Victory-s front-men, who have been fluffing their lines for much of the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season, as will the return to form of Carlos Hernandez, who was magnificent against the Sky Blues. If he takes that level of performance into Week 11, then Roar-s back-line will need to be at their very best to keep him from terrorising them.
Roar fans can take heart though in the fact that, despite being placed in the top half of the Hyundai A-League ladder, Victory have a really disappointing away record, having won just one of their last eleven matches on the road. If they fail to beat Roar, it would be the first time they have gone twelve away matches without winning at least twice.
Brisbane fans, Melbourne Victory are on cloud nine after that win over Sydney. It-s time to bring them back down to earth and capitalise on their poor away form. Let-s create another carnival atmosphere at Suncorp on Saturday night and Roar your team on to Victory!
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