Melbourne City sound warning to A-League rivals

Last season’s grand finalists Melbourne City have fired off a warning to the rest of the A-League after downing Western Sydney 2-0 at Bankwest Stadium.

Melbourne City’s Jamie Maclaren kicks a penalty goal against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Bankwest Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

Last season’s grand finalists Melbourne City have fired off a warning to the rest of the A-League that they may just have their groove back with a second win in a row on the road, after downing Western Sydney 2-0 at Bankwest Stadium.

A controversial VAR penalty marred the second half, however, which frustrated Wanderers boss Carl Robinson to the point that he claimed it was starting to alter his enjoyment of the game.

It was converted by last season’s golden boot winner Jamie Maclaren to give him a double for the evening after James Troisi was adjudged to have had his arm in an unnatural position when the ball hit it inside the area.

Camera angles were unclear though as to whether it hit his body first before ricocheting upwards.

“It’s been stated (by the referee’s boss) that it has to be clear and obvious. It was not one hundred per cent clear and obvious. So, I’ll call him tomorrow and he’ll say the same thing and tell me what I want to hear,” said Robinson.

“I’ve been in a game a long time. It’s actually making me not enjoy football and that’s a shame, so that’s my thought on the VAR decision.”

City’s win also helped provide a boost for coach Patrick Kisnorbo who has not only had some early season pressure relieved but was forced to watch the win from his hotel room having suffered from a bout of food poisoning.

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Western Sydney on the other hand have endured a horrid week at home, losing back-to-back matches that has placed their top six spot at risk having played more games than several teams below them on the table who are all within two points.

Maclaren’s first goal came on the half-hour mark after City pounced on a sloppy Keanu Baccus pass to set up their key marksman who finished with typical aplomb amid little room in the area.

The Socceroos’ second was from the penalty spot following a harsh VAR assisted penalty.

James Troisi was adjudged to have had his arm in an unnatural position when the ball hit it inside the area with camera angles unclear as to whether it hit his body first before ricocheting upwards.

Western Sydney threw plenty at the City defence late on but they held firm, most notably through a superb Tom Glover save from a close-range Bruce Kamau header, to maintain a clean sheet.

Wanderers coach Carl Robinson has one of, if not, the deepest squad in the A-League but finding the right dynamic in attack is proving an issue, right now. The deck of Ibini, Duke, Cox, Yeboah, Kamau, Troisi and Muller continues to be shuffled but it’s yet to click.

In contrast, it seems Melbourne City have all of a sudden found a front three to rival any in the competition. Andrew Nabbout has been superb since returning from injury and with Craig Noone having an excellent season and Maclaren again scoring for fun last season’s runners-up look dangerous in attack once more.

Keanu Baccus is a talent and a likely Olympian this year but he had a tough night out. The combative midfielder gave the ball away too easily in the early stages which included the City opener. He was then booked for diving and subbed at halftime.

NCA Newswire