R13 Games

Damn, Kosta is frustratingly off his game.

Kosta's first touch is rubbish.

Kosta hasn't been at his best for sure. Need to play a bit more down the left you feel. All seems a bit scrappy up front for the Victory. Perth holding well so far. Guess they want to put Jamo on a yellow under pressure. Terribly weak goals.

Harold or Krishna quicker?

Looks like Muscat's comments in the lead up this week have put a bee in the bonnet of the Glory. 

We might be second by the end of the night!

If the score stays the same and the goal differences are the same, we go ahead on more wins?

Perth's defending has been excellent. They punished some slack MV marking and totally deserve the lead.

And only 14 games to go.

after the last couple of seasons some people are just happy where we are sitting at the moment no point pointing out how many games are left as they will also know that, let them enjoy it.

Tards need to concede one more and remain scoreless to go into second by virtue of beating us earlier this season.

As pointed out, still 14 games to go, but I don't believe at this stage of any season in our short history we've ever been in such a lofty position.

If it was us leading 2-0 I'd probably say that but I'll be very, very surprised if Perth blow this one.

Melbourne definitely have goals in them.

There aren't as many straight out dirty players in the league as there used to be. 

No Tiatto, Muscat, J. Burns, that defender who played for both Perth and GCU and Manny has reigned himself in.

and having said that- is Jamo off?

That has to be a second yellow. Joke.

could have been a straight red, wasn't even given as a second yellow

The great mystery that is A League refereeing....

Was def a yellow!! but a straight red I don't think so

If he didn't already have a yellow then he would have got a yellow. There just doesn't seem to be any logic to the way yellow cards are dished out.

Very good game to watch. I am not surprised these two teams are top of the league, despite both being weakened with the national team players being away in camp pre Asian Cup. Worth watching.

Going away from goal it would be hard to give a straight red. Barbarouses needs to work on his finishing - no comparison between him and Thompson.

Good game. Quick to pass. Thoroughly recommended. Would watch again.

Gutted about this scoreline, really wanted to catch up points on Perth.

obvious goal scoring opportunity no?

Kosta's decision making has been a bit weak and slow at times today..

Is it me or does this field look smaller?

Kosta subbed off, Tards cheer.

Yep, that was visible - I thought he could have done better a couple of times in crucial moments.

that said though, the whole Tard attack has been disjointed and Perth's defence and getting numbers around the ball carrier has been very good

Victory are missing FBK. I think he will come in for Barbarouses in future weeks.

And Milligan as the base of the attack I think

probably should have taken Archie off and left Kosta on. He's faster than Finkler and they seem to have lost a little with him off

Nah I think he will come in for Archie. Don't think Archie can hack playing so many games in such short weeks

Leijer suspended for the next match. That'll strengthen their defence.

I am not sure if he is Finkler's equal in terms of footballing brain. I agree with you that he is faster than Finkler.

Slater gets something right: Pain has done precisely nothing since he came on. An off night for Kosta but he was still dangerous.

Pain has been put in a box since he's been out there. Berisha's impact has been less. Finkler has been too slow or too weak. 

Perth's defence has been very very good though too

Maybe. In a long season all 3 of them are going to get a lot of game time. I just think they need Thompson in there because he is another goal scoring threat.

Almost wish Ernie could coach Kosta. He's scared of making the wrong decision in the box. He hasn't quite got the nose for goal. That said he's very capable of beating players and that makes things happen, unless like Perth they've got 3 players covering.

Commentator: "Berisha a little tardy"

But he definitely had a nose for goal at Roar. He was tearing up the league for the first 8 or 9 games but seems to have crucially lost a little confidence recently.

Yeh I didn't see many of his games at the Roar. Just thinking of what I've seen for the AWs and tonight. 

Respect to Berisha in that interview. The guy kept feeding him leading questions and he was a real pro, and real positive about his team.