PHOTO: Jim Webster
The Melbourne Victory jumped into the top two for the first time this season and coach Ange Postecoglou wants to go that one step further and take top off the Central Coast Mariners.
Speaking to the press after the 3-1 defeat of Sydney, Postecoglou declared he wants top and believes the next four games are crucial to achieve their aim.
“We’re in second spot now, there’s only one spot to go and with nine games to go.
“The Mariners are going really well at the moment, but we want top spot, we haven’t shied away from it, that’s where we want to finish.
“So we have bit of a gap to bridge and in the next four weeks we meet some teams that are around us so if we get through that and keep improving our play then we’ll make a tight finish.
“Now being in second spot gives us a shot at maybe trying to knock off first.”
Postecoglou was pleased with the win and how his side played.
“Yeah really pleased because obviously there was a big build to the game and we’re trying to become a dominant force in this league.
“Days like today you sort of question whether you’re up to it, but I thought our first-half was excellent in our tempo and our tone and we really took the game to the opposition, which is what I wanted us to do.
“Second-half started well, probably got a little bit sloppy towards the end, but in terms of our objectives going into the game we were really good. ”
The Victory stared the season slowly, but have finally hit the straps and the former Roar coach believes tonight’s win was the most complete performances to date.
“I think in terms of the context of the game and the season, yeah I’d say that’s pretty close (to being the most complete performance this season), because Sydney were up for it, there’s no doubt about it,” he said.
In a game which had ten yellow cards and two send offs, Postecoglou didn’t think the game was malicious.
“Yeah it was a physical game today, but it’s a derby game, the players are excited so I don’t think there wasn’t anything malicious, it was just an accumulation of fouls.
“Particularly going forward I thought we looked dangerous just about every time we went at them, I thought it was the accumulation of pressure that made the yellow cards come along and the red cards and, also even the goals we scored, there was a couple of deflections, but then again it came at the end of an accumulation of pressure by us on the opposition.”
