Pride at stake for Victory

A-LEAGUE

THE Melbourne Victory are spoiling for a fight after a disappointing draw at their last start and Saturday’s derby clash offers the perfect opportunity to vent their frustrations.

The Victory led the Glory 3-1 in Perth with 15 minutes to play on January 25, but had to settle for a point against the ladder leaders after conceding two late goals.

Nearly two weeks will have elapsed when the third-placed Victory host Melbourne City at Etihad Stadium and striker Besart Berisha says his side is determined to take all three points against its cross-town rivals.

“We are No.1 in this town and we have to prove it,” Berisha said.

“For us, this is what counts. We need to win this game and I’m going to try everything and the boys are (too).

“It’s a special game.” tory’s 5-2 win back in October.

Berisha scored a hat-trick in that round-three clash and found the back of the net against the Glory to take his season’s tally to eight.

Archie Thompson (rested) and Scott Galloway (ill) are probable inclusions against City after missing the game against the Glory.

First-choice goalkeeper Nathan Coe didn’t enjoy one of his better games against Perth, but Berisha didn’t believe he was in danger of losing his spot to reserve keeper Lawrence Thomas.

“Players and goalkeepers sometimes play bad games, but we stick together,” he said.

“This happens sometimes in football. Coey is a very important player for us. We win together, we lose together and we draw together too.”

Saturday’s match will be the Victory’s last at Etihad Stadium for the remainder of the regular season with the crowd expected to be in the vicinity of the 43,729 fans who watched the first derby of the season.

“I believe, like always, it’s going be all navy blue,” Berisha said of the huge turnout expected.

“In the last (derby), I didn’t score and this, for me, is not good. I have to focus on this derby and make sure that I don’t think about what happened before.

“I have to make sure that I do my job. I’m ready to score goals because it’s a special game for the club and the supporters.”