Football pitches in the A-League are roughly the same size and are all surfaced with grass. So why is it that Melbourne Heart has not won on the road since January 2011? 

In all, Heart picked up just one solitary point outside of Victoria last season, earned in a nil-all draw with Sydney FC. When this is contrasted with arguably reasonable home form it is clear why we finished so far outside of the final six.

The recent match away to Perth Glory as the first interstate trip of the season presented an opportunity to immediately rectify this highly worrying trend.  Unfortunately, the opportunity again slipped in a performance up until conceding the goal seemed to lack determination and purpose.

There in an obvious difference in performance between home and away matches. At AAMI Park some of our best football has been played simultaneously with the crowd’s noisy support. Many of our best performances in recent times have been sparked by a goal to energise the crowd which in turn inspires consecutive goals.

Some memorable home wins such as against Newcastle in 2011/12 and against Brisbane last season were achieved with some impressive fluent play and quick transitions using the wings.

There are not many away wins to choose from but the dramatic come from behind win away to Adelaide in season 2010/11 demonstrated great resolve against the odds. The sort of resolve that has been largely absent in Heart’s short A-League history.

Away from home and away from the supportive home fans there appears to be very little to spark confidence and energy into the playing group. Going a goal down against Perth seemed to motivate players to lift which to clutch at straws is an improvement on some of last season’s fade-outs.

However to be a contender in this competition we cannot rely on falling behind to be the motivation away from home.  Picking up points on the road requires grit, tenacity and the ability to sometimes win ‘ugly’.

John Aloisi needs to install these into his team beginning this weekend against Brisbane, something which has been noticeably absent under his reign as coach.

Heart’s away form must improve. Slick skills, a nice passing game and wing play are implemented well at AAMI Park but have not been generated in hostile away environments. Heart need to be brave and to play in whatever way necessary to get a result, we need to learn to win ugly.