A-League

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Thompson to return for Victory

1 March 2013 02:20

Melbourne Victory attacker Archie Thompson is expected to be fit for his side's clash against the Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park on Sunday.

The 34-year-old moved freely and got through a full session on Friday after a hamstring injury had sidelined him for two matches.

Victory coach Ange Postecoglou said Thompson needed to train again a day before the match, but he expects the Socceroo to take his place.

"He was moving pretty well this morning. Still (has) got a session to get through," Postecoglou said after training.

"He's pretty keen to get back amongst it. It's great to have him back in the side. He's obviously an important part of what we do, particularly here at home.

"It'll be great for our supporters to see him out there again.

"He's done everything right in terms of the rehab and in terms of the time out. This was always the plan and he's ticked all those boxes.

"We've still got one session to go. Probably the fact that it's a Sunday game helps as well but all signs are he'll be all right."

Thompson is likely to be the only change to the starting side that was handed a 6-2 thrashing by the Central Coast Mariners on Saturday night, with Connor Pain likely to make way.

Postecoglou said Victory's lacklustre showing at Bluetongue Stadium was below what they expect and wants them to avoid performing so poorly again.

"From our perspective, our performance last week was nowhere near the standards that we've set," he said.

"Results can often go either way but you want to be performing at a certain level, and we didn't.

"Some of that was we met a very good side and we were very poor. When that combination happens, you get punished. We can't afford to be very poor again."

With matches against Newcastle, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Wellington to finish the regular season, Victory could go into the finals series in top form.

Postecoglou believes their form could be the difference in the finals.

"I think form going into finals is the best indicator you've got," he said.

"From our perspective, whatever's happened last week or the week before it's really important the next five weeks we hit our best form of the year.

"If we do that, on the eve of the finals, it gives us the best chance to perform well and win the competition.

"I think even if we were flying at this stage, my main focus would be to make sure we maintained it right up until the finals series.

"There's no point peaking today and not being right when the finals come around."

Postecoglou said he was unsurprised the Jets were resting attacking duo Emile Heskey and Michael Bridges due to their busy schedule.

Playmaker Marcos Flores is 'a chance' to return against the Roar as he continues his recovery from a quad strain.

Info

Melbourne Victory

L W W L D

5 - 0

Newcastle Jets

L D L L W

Competition: A-League
Date: 3 March 2013
Game week: 23
Kick-off: 07:00

Half-time: 3 - 0
Full-time: 5 - 0

Venue: AAMI Park (Melbourne)
Attendance: 17778

Goals

M. Rojas 8'	1 - 0
A. Leijer 15'	2 - 0
M. Milligan (PG) 30'	3 - 0
M. Milligan (PG) 57'	4 - 0
M. Rojas 65'	5 - 0

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
39	N. Coe
5	M. Milligan	30' 57'
23	A. Leijer	15'
33	D. Mullen
3	A. Traore
31	S. Galloway
6	L. Broxham
11	M. Rojas	8' 65'
14	B. Celeski
32	C. Pain
10	A. Thompson
Coach: A. Postecoglou

#	Player	Bookings
20	M. Birighitti
5	D. Ritter
2	S. Neville
14	T. Regan	30' 56'
12	J. Brillante
15	C. Goodwin
8	R. Zadkovich
25	M. Cooper
26	A. Hoole	56'
21	M. Jesic
22	A. Taggart
Coach: G. van Egmond

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
18	F. Stella for A. Thompson 58'
21	S. Dilevski for B. Celeski 58'
26	A. Nabbout for C. Pain 78'
1	T. Velaphi

#	Player	Bookings
18	J. Pepper for M. Cooper 70'
11	C. Chapman for J. Brillante 76'
10	Bernardo for C. Goodwin 85'
1	B. Kennedy

Thursday 20 June

02:07	FIFA Confederations Cup: Italy 4 Japan 3
01:57	Garcia targets Europe´s elite
01:07	Villas-Boas eyes crucial period
00:14	Parma director: Cassano signing would be a gift to the city
00:09	Red Star coach steps down

Wednesday 19 June

23:48	Anzhi home stadium ban upheld
23:43	Newell´s Old Boys crowned Argentine champions
22:59	FIFA Confederations Cup: Brazil 2 Mexico 0
22:18	Shakhtar open to Mkhitaryan offers
20:13	Brazil 2-0 Mexico: Star man Neymar the match-winner again
19:52	Juventus complete Asamoah deal
18:57	Amorebieta relishing Fulham challenge
18:56	Britton: Laudrup issues disrupting squad
18:52	Vitesse set to unveil Bosz
18:49	Zorc: Dortmund displeased with Goetze timing
18:43	Sunderland complete Karlsson signing
18:37	Bowyer coy on Norwich´s Olsson interest
17:57	Bowen excited by Stoke challenge
17:39	Gaitan happy at Benfica, insists agent
17:35	Malaga want big money for Isco
17:33	Mourinho wary of Hull City test
17:25	Sagna committed to Arsenal
17:06	Kirchhoff relishing Bayern challenge
17:04	Lichaj signs on at Forest
16:57	Crystal Palace hope United will allow Zaha back
16:48	Puyol undergoes knee surgery
16:46	Schuster proud to take reins at Malaga
16:32	Carlton Cole spoilt for choice after West Ham release
16:24	Tolstykh: Capello will not join PSG
16:20	Lallana excited by Saints fixtures
16:18	Clarke pleased with Southampton opener
15:52	Prandelli urges Balotelli to change his ways
15:39	Van Geel: Immers to stay at Feyenoord
15:29	West Ham complete Carroll capture
15:28	Hearts placed in administration
15:10	Donati to hold Inter talks
14:53	Mertens close to Napoli move
14:34	Neville: Pre-season is the time to impress Moyes
14:10	Carragher: Liverpool will do business quickly
13:51	Palermo appoint Gattuso
13:49	Martinez: Let´s build on last season
13:37	Fabregas: Real would be foolish to spend £100 million on Bale
13:32	Sunderland make Vydra loan bid
12:29	Baldini appointed as Tottenham technical director
11:52	FA Cup final given end-of-season billing
10:47	Coyle´s Wigan tenure begins at Barnsley
10:16	Celtic to start with Ross County test
10:03	Pique advises Thiago to stay at Barcelona
10:00	Llambias resigns but Pardew vows to stay on
09:54	Lampard targets third World Cup
09:48	Zorc: De Bruyne is interested in Dortmund move
06:32	FIFA World Cup Qualifying Wrap: United States stay in charge
05:09	Neill, Schwarzer in the shop window
04:31	Osieck vindicated by super-sub Kennedy
04:06	Puyol set for further surgery
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03:11	Bielsa, Santos talks fall through
02:55	Vilanova rues easy title run-in
02:36	Del Bosque defends Casillas´ inclusion
00:42	Spain-Tahiti Preview: La Roja seeking big win over Pacific islanders
00:19	Lens leaves PSV for Dynamo Kiev

Tuesday 18 June

23:43	FIFA Confederations Cup Preview: Spain v Tahiti
22:55	FIFA World Cup Qualifying Wrap: Australia, Iran, South Korea qualify
20:58	Carroll passes West Ham medical
20:01	Nigeria-Uruguay Preview: Super Eagles look to land knockout blow
13:08	Maher agent denies Ajax deal
13:05	Newcastle confirm Kinnear appointment
12:49	Taylor ´really happy´ with Kinnear return
12:44	Australia 1-0 Iraq: Kennedy books Brazil place
12:25	Clarke happy with Reid commitment
12:03	Bittencourt signs for Hannover
11:22	Van Dijk keen on Celtic move
11:15	De Gea sets the bar high
10:58	Confederations Cup Preview: Nigeria v Uruguay
10:58	Bacuna keen to get going at Villa
10:47	Hamburg a possibility for Santa Cruz
10:29	Rebelo: Protests will not harm Confederations Cup
10:27	Kinnear: We need another striker
07:48	Brazil-Mexico Preview: Selecao gunning for semi-final berth
03:41	Valcke: Brazil better for football tournaments
01:38	Tahiti trump Nigeria in celebration stakes

A-League table

#	Team	D
1	Adelaide United	+0
2	Brisbane Roar	+0
3	Central Coast …	+0
4	Melbourne Heart	+0
5	Melbourne Victory	+0
6	Newcastle Jets	+0
7	Perth Glory	+0
8	Sydney	+0
9	Wellington Phoenix	+0
10	Western Sydne…	+0

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