Melbourne Victory defender Leigh Broxham says top spot is attainable for his side

THE winless streak has ended and now Leigh Broxham has said that Melbourne Victory can now refocus on climbing back to the top of the table.

Melbourne Victory training at Gosch's paddock, 22nd of October 2015, Melbourne Australia. Melbourne Victory's Leigh Broxham during training. Picture : George Salpigtidis

THE winless streak has ended and now Leigh Broxham has said that Melbourne Victory can now refocus on climbing back to the top of the table.

A goal from Fahid Ben Khalfallah helped ease the pressure on him and his team, with the 1-0 at Newcastle Jets on Sunday arresting a five game winless streak that included four losses.

Victory is now in pole position to claim successive wins for the first time since November when they host battlers Central Coast at Geelong’s Simonds Stadium on Friday after buying the Mariners’ home match.

Broxham said the win, which opened up a five-point buffer from sixth-place Wellington Phoenix, was vital and top spot, though seven points away, was attainable.

“Definitely, it’s still in our hands because we still need to play all the teams above us and that’ll come down to us, taking points off them and the top two that are a bit ahead of us,’’ Broxham said.

“That’s a goal we set out at the start (of the season), we want to have a successful year again and nothing’s changed.

“It was an important three points to keep us in touch with the top four. It’s not so much that we’re back, it was only a matter of time, but it’s something to build on.’’

Broxham, who was deployed as a midfielder for a second straight week, could return to defence next week with four of the five Victory players that departing for Olyroos duty last night in the Middle East being defenders.

Stopper Thomas Deng and right-back Jason Geria both started against the Jets, while Connor Pain was a late sub, but Broxham was confident Victory had depth.

“It’s going to be a bit difficult but we’ve lost players in the past,’’ he said.

“We’ve had boys training with us from the youth team and everyone who’s called upon knows what their job is and what they need to do for the club so whatever the personnel available I’m sure they’ll do a good job for us.’’

Originally published as Melbourne Victory defender Leigh Broxham says top spot is attainable for his side