Read the latest edition in our fan blog series from Matt, who looks at the contrast in the Red and White’s home form this season.
John Aloisi-s Melbourne Heart side might be wobbly on the road, but there is no denying that the team has finally found its feet at home.
A 100 per cent record at AAMI Park in 2013 is proving the basis for our charge at finals football for the second consecutive season in only our third season in existence, and it is no less than the supporters deserve for their ongoing support of the club.
On Sunday, the Heart took out a massive 3-1 win over Sydney FC in a real six-pointer, keeping their finals hopes alive and putting a stop to a direct opponent-s run of good form.
It was a fantastic performance from the boys in Red and White, whose goals came from three inspired moments of lovely play, and, better yet, it was watched by a bumper crowd of 13,752 – a record home crowd outside of the Melbourne derby.
As long as the club can keep up its superb home form, the club will have a real shot at finishing in the top 6 and securing a spot in the finals where anything can happen, but to make sure of that, our away form desperately has to improve.
A failure to win away from home has thus far hindered Heart-s season, and helps to explain why the club has failed to make certain of a finals position up until this point, despite playing some fabulous football at times this season.
With a trip to beleaguered Wellington on the cards for this weekend, Heart won-t have many better chances to improve an away record that desperately needs to be overturned.
The club will travel to Wellington a day early to complete its pre-game preparation in New Zealand, which will hopefully allow the team to settle and put in the sort of performance that has been reserved for AAMI Park over the last two months.
Three points in Wellington would help to further cement the club-s position in the top 6 at a crucial stage of the season, particularly with an extremely tough run in coming up.
After the game in Wellington, three of Heart-s four remaining games are against the top four clubs in the league, who sit far and away above the chasing pack.
Heart have proven capable of giving each of those sides a run for their money already this season, but there is no denying that the fixture in Wellington is one that stands out as a very ‘winnable- fixture, given the turmoil that Wellington are facing, topped with the recent exit of longtime coach Ricki Herbert.
If John Aloisi can get the side playing the sort of football they play at AAMI Park on their travels, then we can be relatively assured of finals football in a little over a month-s time. For now though, fortress AAMI is keeping us in the hunt.
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