Melbourne Victory have been slow out of the blocks this season going winless from their first four home games, but as history shows it’s no reason to panic.
In fact, the last time they started a Hyundai A-League campaign with two losses and draws from their first four home games two seasons ago, they went on to become Champions.
It’s the stat which will have Marco Kurz and his Victory side reluctant to hit the panic button just yet, despite another tough 1-1 draw against Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park yesterday afternoon.
Wellington came into the game without a point from their first four games but hit the scoreboard early through Ulises Davila after receiving a penalty for handball.
Victory then went on to mount serious pressure on the Phoenix goal which eventually garnered an equaliser through Ola Toivonen, but that was all the hosts could muster as they ended their fourth home game of the season without a win once again.
Despite the concerning continuation of their lacklustre home form to begin the 2019/20 Season, Victory midfielder Poulsen remains confident his side are on the right track after their gritty comeback against the Phoenix.
“(After the first-half) we needed to play faster on the ball and move a bit better for each other,” Poulsen told FOX Sports post-match.
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“I think we did that very well, we were just unlucky not to have scored the next goal and win the game.
“We created a lot of chances, we only missed (putting) them in.
“A very good game in general for us except for the first five minutes. I think we deserved the win big time, actually.”
Melbourne and Wellington battled for ascendancy in the fiery encounter which produced six yellow cards, as both sides tried desperately to shake off their patchy form to start the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Season.
The Phoenix came into the clash having lost their first four games of the season and dug deep to ensure they didn’t become the first side in Hyundai A-League history to start a campaign with five consecutive losses.
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Victory enjoyed the majority of possession, taking 20 shots as they ramped up the pressure on Stefan Marinovic’s goal but the visitors refused to buckle.
One positive stood out on a frustrating afternoon for Victory was Toivonen becoming the fastest player in club history to score 20 goals.
The Swede scored his 18th Hyundai A-League goal to go with his two AFC Champions League strikes in just his 32nd appearance for the club, eclipsing Besart Berisha’s previous record of 36 games.
The result takes Victory’s points tally to five from their first five games, with their only win of their season so far coming from their trip to Brisbane in Round 3.
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