A-League: Sydney FC send records tumbling with flying start

Alex Brosque has never seen a Sydney FC side so dominant and playing such good football so early in the season.

Alex Brosque has been a key feature of Sydney FC’s superb start to the season. Picture: Gregg Porteous.

Unbeaten after six rounds, two records broken and a host of others in sight — is it any wonder captain Alex Brosque says he has never seen a Sydney FC side so dominant and playing such good football so early in the season.

Now in his second stint with the Sky Blues and having just played his 150th game with the club, the 33-year-old veteran is well placed to make a judgment on how well they are travelling.

Sydney are understandably the talk of the competition after disposing of Perth Glory 4-1 on Sunday to establish a six-point buffer over second-placed Melbourne City. Such is their domination that defending champions Adelaide United, who are bottom of the table, are already a staggering 16 points behind the leaders.

With such a start, the Sky Blues have wiped away a number of club and A-League records.

They have eclipsed their longest winning sequence (four) set in the 2013-14 season.

They have scored the most goals (17) for the opening six rounds of a season — surpassing Brisbane Roar’s 16 for the same stage in the 2011-12 season.

They have equalled the record for least goals conceded (two) after the same period — held by the Central Coast Mariners (2007-08).

And there could be more to come. If Sydney beat Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday they will equal Melbourne Victory’s record run of seven straight games without a loss, at the start of the 2006-07 season.

While Brosque and coach Graham Arnold are wary about getting too carried away and are determined to keep Sydney heads out of the clouds, they are understandably proud of what has been achieved so far this season.

Brosque has played a pivotal role in the success, scoring four times in six appearances to dispel suggestions he would not be the same player after missing the last two months of last season following surgery on his hamstring.

“I’ve never seen a team at Sydney since I’ve been here start this way, even play this way, dominate games this way,” Brosque said.

“You go through pre-season hoping that you’ll get a start like this, but it is tough in the A-League because anyone can beat anyone on their day.

“There are teams taking points off each other so it makes it even more special what we’ve done.

“That is six games that we’ve won in a row, plus the FFA Cup run as well and making the final there ... it isn’t easy.

“It’s a difficult competition. The foreigners will tell you that. If you’re not as close to your best as possible, you’re not going to win.”

Brosque said it was important the club stayed focused.

“There is a long way to go and we can’t get carried away — we can’t afford to. I am sure the staff won’t let that happen,’’ he said.

“We have to remember we started well last season (third on 16 points after nine rounds) and then we fell away (to miss the finals). We need to just maintain and keep doing what we’re doing.”

One issue for Sydney is their slow starts in recent matches. Perth should have punished them early on Sunday, but missed several chances to really put the hosts under pressure.

Arnold said it was something he needed to look at.

“I look forward to the day we can put in a 90-minute performance,” the coach said.

“I thought we were fantastic against Perth for 60 to 65 minutes. The slow starts are something we need to talk about, look at it and see why.”