Melbourne Victory star Mark Milligan said Victory were more like their old selves after they battled back from going a man down to draw 1-1 with Western Sydney Wanderers on Monday night.
To complete Round 5 in the Hyundai A-League, the two sides put on a classic at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.
Though Wanderers will rue not making the most of the man advantage, Victory still remain winless.
But, said Milligan, his team might have turned a corner after a brave display in front of a noisy 21,000 plus crowd on Cup Eve in Melbourne.
“Apart from the pen [conceded] we didn’t give them too many clear chances,” the Caltex Socceroo told Fox Sports.
“We’ve had a slow start to the season and this week we worked really hard on a few things.
“And the first 30-odd minutes we looked more like ourselves again.
“And to have that grit and determination and to continue to try and press them, it takes a lot of courage.”
A defining moment in the game was the penalty save by Thomas in the first half.
After the Big V lost Mitch Austin to a second yellow, 2-0 down may’ve ended the hopes of the home side.
“You talk about moments in games and a penalty save is one of the biggest lifts you can get,” said Milligan.
“That kept us in the game and we knew we had to respond for him to put his body on the line.”
Milligan is suspended from the national team and didn’t travel to Honduras for the Socceroos’ World Cup playoff qualifier first leg later this week.
He’ll be back in contention for the second leg on November 15 in Sydney.
