After Western Sydney’s early goal, the rest of the half became a dull affair with very little to note. With Melbourne City chasing the game in the second stanza, the game picked up with four goals between the sides providing an entertaining match for the neutrals.

Both sides still have many unknowns about them, but right now, Melbourne City showed just enough to taste victory.

Here are three thoughts from Melbourne City’s 3-2 win against Western Sydney Wanderers at Bankwest Stadium.

Bruce Kamau lifts Western Sydney, almost

Who is this guy? Is this really the same Kamau of last season?

The winger has missed the beginning of the A-League due to injury, and it’s clear that with him in the team, there is far more impetus going forward. His first touch cross straight into the path of Kwame Yeboah was what dreams are made for.

The combination between Kamau and Yeboah was startling to watch throughout the game. Two players that haven’t shown their clear ability in a long time, both having standout performances and producing some of the Wanderers’ best play this season.

PLUS...

Babbel fury: I'm not saying anything about the referees. But we are not blind here, no?

Jamie Maclaren has continued his remarkable goalscoring run with two goals in Melbourne City's controversial 3-2 A-League win over Western Sydney.

The elephant in the room is the fact that those moments of brilliance came while marquee striker Alexander Meier was left on the bench. Suddenly, instead of the static target that is Meier, there was movement as players interchanged positions between each other and played as a unit.

Meier’s introduction also meant that there was less tracking back as there was in the first half, with his 36 year old legs not able to move box to box unlike his teammates.

Although he later assisted the second goal late in the second half, perhaps it makes an argument that he works better as a plan B than the first line of attack?

Inconsistent City need to be better

It took some luck but Erick Mombaert’s City were able to keep their heads up and comeback after going down a goal in the first two minutes of play.

Although the Melburnians dominated possession, there was very little urgency in the game plan against the Wanderers. Plenty of sterile possession, reminiscent of the Joyce days, especially in the first half.

It seems apparent at the moment that City are lacking that decisive playmaker that can force a defence to break. Craig Noone and Javier Cabrera would be the two you expect to take control in those times, but they have so far been peripherals this season.

Their game picked up in the second half, however were it not for the dubious penalty call that forced Western Sydney to open up a bit more, it’s hard to see who would have managed to break down the defence.

Jamie Maclaren has been the league’s best striker by far, and he saved them once again tonight. What makes his form even more spectacular is the fact that there often is little service to work with.

He’s making the absolute most out of very little.

Erick Mombaerts has clearly shown tactical innovations into the league which has helped get the ball into the final third, but he needs to figure out something for his team to do once they are there.

PLUS...

Western Sydney Wanderers vs Melbourne City: Player Ratings

Jamie Maclaren's brace earned Melbourne City three points on the road at Bankwest Stadium as they defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 3-2 in an enthralling encounter.

VAR takes over… again

I try to resist talking about VAR as much as possible, but how much longer must this go on? How much longer CAN it go on?

If VAR was introduced to get rid of the howlers, to make sure we reach the correct judgement as often as possible, then what on earth was it doing in this match?

Denis Genreau leaps up for a cross and takes a tumble after the ball sails over his head. There is plenty of space between the young City midfielder and any Western Sydney defender – it’s something fans have seen plenty of times before, and the game just plays on.

Referee Chris Beath has somehow seen Georgievski with a shirt tug in there to award a penalty, which perhaps can happen in the spark of the moment. How, though, does this foul get past VAR?

Was it not clear and obvious enough to correct the decision? What is the bar if that horrendous decision can somehow make it through?

So many questions, but fans can’t help but doubt that there will no response from anyone with power to give an answer.