Berisha scored a hat-trick to send Western Sydney Wanderers to its third loss of the season with a 3-0 win at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

The Albanian is now just one goal off equalling Archie Thompson’s record of the most goals in A-League history with 89 scored to date.

Muscat defended Berisha during the week leaving a cheeky jab to the haters suggesting his presence was stronger than the likes of Bruno Fornaroli, Andy Keogh and Jamie Maclaren.

“If he’s up there to be criticised, well, I think there’s another eight or nine strikers in the country who’ll be thinking ‘he’s doing a lot better than me’,” Muscat said after the Wanderers win.

“Write him off again during the week if you all can because he loves it, is it unfair? I probably don’t think it’s unfair.

“Only because of the expectations he’s created for himself, he gets kicked from pillar to post.

“He just gets on with it, I could really see the fire in his eye tonight and his chances… all three of them were different.

“The expectation he’s created is unprecedented over a period of time, over four to five years…. unprecedented.”

After a 1-1 draw at home to Perth Glory last week, Muscat was scratching his head as to why Victory did not win the game after Keogh’s goal was the only shot on target for the opposition.

Muscat’s message was simple, it was performances which would lead to long term progression.

“The following morning (after the 1-1 draw to Perth) when we met as staff and went through the game, I wasn’t concerned whatsoever,” he said.

“It was a very good performance to come and perform like we did tonight was a very good team, front third, (Nicolas) Martinez again – an outstanding individual.

“Mitch (Nichols) and Jumpei (Kusukami) caused some problems, I thought we negated that for the majority of the time.

“Naturally good players are going to get their moments in the game, I can’t be happier for the group in terms of going out there and applying what was asked when they got their rewards.”     

Victory return to AAMI Park next weekend to a top-of-the-table clash with crosstown rivals Melbourne City in the traditional Christmas Derby.