Victory coach Kevin Muscat says his team has much improvement in them despite annihilating Phoenix 6-1 on Monday night.
Two Besart Berisha penalties in quick succession gave Victory momentum with Daniel Georgievski, Ollie Bozanic and Marco Rojas all lively in the first half.
Wellington pulled it back to 2-1 after Alan Baro brought down Roy Krishna in the box who subsequently capitalised from the spot.
Muscat said Dylan Fox’s send off at the hour mark helped Victory expose Wellington as his troops netted four goals in the final 20 minutes.
“We started the second half a little bit off, it was a gentle reminder to us you have to stay alive and switched on mentally,” Muscat said.
“We had a number of other chances as well, so it was a good night.
“A little bit disappointed we let them back into the game because I didn’t think we should have allowed them back into the game, a lot of the work for that result was done in the first half because we come in at half time, they didn’t’ have a shot on target in the first half.
“It was due to a lot of hard work, we ask for more of an attacking threat, more aggression in the front third and that was certainly the case tonight based on the back of keeping possession of the ball. You’re now utilising possession of the ball in areas where we felt we worked them and hurt them.”
Georgievski is in doubt after sustaining a shoulder injury following a collision with Jacob Tratt which saw him brought from the field in the 51st minute.
Marco Rojas had a blinder but appeared to be feeling his hamstring in the final minutes.
Muscat said his star pulled up okay and should be part of the squad to take on table topping Sydney FC next week.
He said his side would need to better capitalise on opportunities against the Sky Blues or face defeat.
“I don’t know what the effect of tonight’s result is going to have in the remainder of the season,” he said.
“There was a clear intent for us to break them down and utilise some space in the park tonight and I thought the players carried that out unbelievably well.
“So we maintained possession, albeit once we got in that final third I thought we could’ve been a little bit better with our final delivery, we had a handful of opportunities, but I think we should have created more.”
Muscat expects to know all the facts regarding 16-year-old rising star Seb Pasquali after it was revealed he would be joining Dutch giants Ajax.
Pasquali was subsequently pulled from Monday's team.
Muscat refused to comment on the situation post-match.
“Seb’s not 17 so legally he can’t sign a contract with us, they’re the laws unfortunately for us, but fortunately for the boy he’s got a great opportunity,” Muscat conceded.
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