A brace from Besart Berisha and a superb solo goal from James Troisi saw Melbourne Victory seal a comfortable win over Central Coast Mariners and keep their faint premiership hopes alive.
Coach Kevin Muscat was critical of Melbourne Victory's lack of intensity in their laboured scoreless draw away to Newcastle Jets on Monday night, leaving his side 11 points behind league leaders Sydney FC.
After a nil-nil draw in Newcastle, Melbourne Victory are now 11 points adrift of A-League leaders Sydney.
Melbourne Victory boss Kevin Muscat has added his voice to the chorus, calling for A-League referees to lift their game, but suggested that better resources are needed if the standard of refereeing is to truly improve.
Newcastle's A-League home clash with Melbourne Victory has been moved to Monday night due to the extreme heat expected on Saturday afternoon.
Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas understands the frustration that saw his Melbourne City opposite Dean Bouzanis lash out at Victory striker Besart Berisha, even if he doesn't condone Bouzanis' sledging of the Albanian as a gypsy.
Tim Cahill is used to making headlines and breaking records in Australian soccer.
Is there more of an on field embodiment for coach Kevin Muscat than Besart Berisha?
Melbourne Victory skipper Carl Valeri has backed Socceroos defender Trent Sainsbury's loan move to Inter Milan – the club Valeri cut his professional teeth at – saying playing in the Serie A should help the centre-back develop and improve his game.
Anyone having a bet on the race for the A-League golden boot could be forgiven for focusing on the top two strikers who will face off on Saturday night in the third Melbourne derby of the season.
Melbourne City coaching staff are hopeful that marquee man Tim Cahill will be fit to take his place against local rivals Melbourne Victory in the third A-League derby of the season next Saturday night.
Marking the A-League's greatest ever goal scorer in a debut would seem a baptism of fire for most defenders though Sydney FC's Dutch centre-back wasn't overly impressed by Besart Berisha
Kevin Muscat, Melbourne Victory's coach, looked unimpressed when asked on the eve of the Big Blue clash with Sydney if the current league leaders, unbeaten in 16 A-League matches coming into Thursday night's game, could be the best A-League team ever.
Provocative comments from Kevin Muscat attempted to rattle the nerves of Sydney FC ahead of Thursday's Big Blue with Melbourne Victory, though the Sky Blue's midfielder Milos Ninkovic didn't even flinch.
Three games in seven days with trips to Wellington and Perth thrown in for good measure. Surely that takes its toll on players physical and mental strength?
A-League title favourites Sydney FC enter this week's Big Blue with a psychological advantage after nearest rivals Melbourne Victory were brought undone by their gruelling road trip.
Melbourne Victory have slumped to their second straight defeat, with Perth coming from behind to secure a 2-1 win in Saturday night's A-League clash at nib Stadium.
Sydney FC heap pressure on Melbourne Victory ahead of Thursday's "Big Blue" suggesting the race for the premiership will become a one horse race if Victory fail to win.
Melbourne Victory's credentials as genuine challengers for top spot on the A-League ladder were always going to be sorely tested during their fixture pile-up, but the examination has become much tougher following their 3-0 loss to Wellington Phoenix.
Roly Bonevacia's form resurgence has continued with a match-winning performance for Wellington Phoenix against Melbourne Victory.
Melbourne Victory striker Besart Berisha is free to play against Wellington on Tuesday after his controversial A-League red card against Brisbane was rescinded.
Marco Rojas is fit to start in Melbourne Victory's clash with Brisbane Roar on Friday night as the A-League powerhouse chases a sixth consecutive win.
Former Socceroo reflects on how his life has turned around in the last 12 months.
This isn't a derby, but Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory is in some ways more fiercely contested than any other fixture in the A-League.
Mitch Austin could turn out for his first A-League appearance in more than a month when Melbourne Victory face Adelaide United.
Melbourne Victory assistant coach Jean-Paul de Marigny has been handed a three-week touchline ban after his expletive-ridden tirade directed towards the Newcastle Jets bench during Monday night's A-League clash.
On paper it looked like a regulation assignment, and that's how it turned out as Melbourne Victory eased to a 4-1 win over Central Coast Mariners to end round 12, setting themselves up perfectly for a New Year's clash with Newcastle Jets in Geelong.
South Melbourne has upped the ante in its bid to win one of the first licenses when the A League expands by saying it has targeted Brazilian soccer legend Roberto Carlos to become its coach if the club  gets the go ahead to joint the competition.
He may not have hit the target yet, but James Troisi has done everything but score for Melbourne Victory since returning to the starting line-up.
With almost half the A-League season gone the two Melbourne clubs sit in the top four on the ladder and are poised to push on in a challenge to runaway leaders Sydney over the Christmas and New Year break.