"Every win is a good win, especially when you play against the team at the top of the ladder," said Bleiberg.

"If Sydney had won we would have been eight points behind them, so it was an important win for us.

"We worked hard; we frustrated Sydney and varied our game when we needed to. I'm pleased and proud of our performance.

"We worked hard through our frustrations and we wanted to succeed, so we decided to add two dimensions to our game because we can't try and play like Barcelona every week because sometimes you win 5-0 and sometimes you lose 6-0," he told Sportal.

Bleiberg challenged his men to be tougher on the ball and it payed dividends with Sydney's awesome frontline devoid of scoring chances.

United defenders Michael Thwaite, Kristian Rees and Steve Pantelidis revelled under the coach's instructions, putting an end to the team's recent goal-leaking habit.

"We decided to add a bit of mongrel to our game and go for every second ball; we learnt our lesson from the Fury last week and Wellington," said Bleiberg.

The second phase of Bleiberg's plan was use the full length of the field and play long which suited the radar-like boot of Brazilian wing-back Anderson.

"We decided we don't always have to play the nice smooth passing game with Jason (Culina) coming back, let's be like the other A-League clubs and play some long balls and vary the game," he said.

"We played more long balls then we ever played, and if people want to criticise then that's ok because I'm happy to play the long balls and have the three points."

Culina benefitted from the change in tactics which in turn benefitted the team as its most skilled player had the chance to get more involved in the attack.

"I played a lot more forward today," Culina said.

"I enjoy going forward and I think the team needs me to go forward, so Miron has put me back up there and I am enjoying it."

Culina was also thrilled with the result and speaking after the game, hoped the result and performance would force a few of the club's detractors to shut up.

"I knew it was there all along, it was just hiding somewhere," he told the media.

"We showed a lot of enthusiasm and pride in our game so it's a big weight off our shoulders, the boys played well tonight and I'm proud of them.

"We had a lot of chances tonight so it could have been even more. I think we kept them in check, we didn't give anything away."

The win lifted United to within two points of Sydney at the top of the table.