His club’s incredible 4-0 victory in the most recent A-League Melbourne derby might have brought the house down, but it doesn’t impress Melbourne City defender Robbie Wielaert.
The Dutch centre-back said while the scoreline might have been impressive – the performance was not.
“If you look back at that game, we started very poor,” he said.
“We didn’t concede a goal and we scored the first goal and a lucky second goal but I think the result was not really fair.”
Most of the sell-out AAMI Park crowd in attendance that evening would tell you a different story.
First Orlando Engelaar finished a flowing move for the game’s opening goal after ten minutes, before Mate Dugandzic chipped Victory’s keeper Lawrence Thomas to make it 2-0.
When Nick Ansell was controversially sent off before half-time, the club formerly known as Melbourne Heart capped a memorable night for the young club with late goals to David Williams and Harry Kewell.
The win was Heart’s fifth in a row as they sought to salvage a rotten opening half of last season.
But that’s where their remarkable run ended – with the March 1 win remaining the last time the club tasted success.
Wielaert, who saw the goals from Heart’s defence, is adamant the result flattered his side.
Spoken like a true defender, Wielaert said the opening round 0-0 from last season was a better performance.
“I think maybe in the first game we deserved a better result than that game,” he said.
Either way, the 13th edition of the Melbourne derby on Saturday night promises fireworks.
Victory’s early season form has been impressive, particularly their opening night belting of Western Sydney Wanderers.
But to subdue City, they’ll need to quell star striker David Villa.
Villa has equalised for the club in both of City’s 1-1 draws to start their A-League season and could leave the club for good after their round four date with Adelaide.
Wielaert said the ongoing confusion around Villa’s length of stay wasn’t a factor amongst the players.
“We know he’s not going to be with us the whole season. We just enjoy him being around as long as possible,” he said.
“It’s not an issue in the playing group.”
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