A ‘little party’ is in store for Melbourne Heart should they win in Western Sydney on Saturday, according to defender Rob Wielaert.
A ‘little party’ is in store for Melbourne Heart should they win in Western Sydney on Saturday, according to defender Rob Wielaert.
Winless this season, the Heart’s dreadful away record faces another test when they visit Pirtek Stadium to meet the second-placed Wanderers.
The Heart’s last win outside Victoria came in December 2011 and ending that woeful record would lead to celebration.
“We’re going to have a little party if we get three points away,” Wielaert told reporters on Thursday.
“We have to get confidence in ourselves because we have a very good team if we play together. If we don’t play together, then we can lose every game.”
Wielaert hopes attacker Harry Kewell will be fit to return from an ankle injury, but said the 35-year-old was still doing rehab.
Western Sydney have marquee midfielder Shinji Ono in doubt for the encounter with a groin strain.
Wielaert played against Ono – then at Feyenoord – during his time in the Netherlands, but warned the Heart the Wanderers had other weapons.
“I played against him when he was at Feyenoord. He was also a very important player for Feyenoord,” he said.
“He’s a good player, but I think they have a very good team. They don’t rely on one player.”
Wielaert said it was important his side stayed compact away from home, and is confident an attack that has scored in just three of eight games this season will fire.
“For us it’s important that we don’t get a counter-attack in an away game because they are waiting for a counter,” he said.
“We have to make sure the defence is OK and that’s the main thing. With our strikers, we’re going to score almost every game I think.”
