Melbourne's season back on track with 3-0 win over the Fury | Thebigtip

Melbourne Victory officially kicked off the post-Kevin Muscat era last night with a 3-0 win over a gallant North Queensland Fury at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville.

It would be the fourth time this season that Melbourne have kept a clean sheet without their spiritual leader, and hopefully, it is an omen which can see them reclaim some lost ground before the A-League finals.

It was a relieving win for Melbourne, not just for the events of the past week, but for the fact that they have dropped 4 points in their last two games from seemingly winnable positions against their fiercest rivals, Sydney and Heart.

The Navy Blues welcomed back Adrian Leijer from injury, with the 24-year-old central defender assuming the captainancy duties for the first time, not as a short term replacement but as a leader in his own right.

The game started slowly with both teams trying to find their feet, while Melbourne’s new look defence was able to effectively contain any chances the Fury created without incident, save for the 15th minute where Leijer rightly received a yellow card for an awful challenge.

Danny Allsopp continued his rich vein of form since returning to Melbourne, with a well finished goal in the 27^th minute after being set up by a low driven cross from Tommy Pondeljak. Allsopp's goal was his third in as many games and the much maligned striker is starting to make an impact while still finding match fitness.

The 34^th minute saw Marvin Angulo replaced by Matthew Foschini, a sight which has become all too familiar for the Costa Rican, who would have to feel pretty unappreciated at the moment.

The second half started in much the same manner as the first half ended, with Melbourne clearly content to sit on their lead and try and poach a few goals on the counter. Their patience would pay off in the 68^th minute when substitute Mate Dugandzic sent a thunderous header into the back of the net from a poorly cleared corner by Fury keeper Justin Pasfield.

Super-sub Mate Dugandic was at it again minutes later when he sealed the win in the 73^rd minute, pouncing on a poor back pass by the Fury’s Eric Akoto and rounding the keeper to send Melbourne 3-0 up. Game over.

The win was somewhat soured when Billy Celeski came off in the 86^th minute with a groin injury, and with three games in the space of two weeks, Melbourne will need as many able bodies as possible.

Melbourne must now set its sights to AAMI park on Sunday as it prepares to take on a Gold Coast United team brimming with confidence after disposing of the Newcastle Jets 5-1.

United’s attack will pose the Navy Blues with a sterner challenge than the Fury, and Melbourne’s defence will need to be tighter than it was last night if they are to replicate their clean sheet performance.