Babbel swaps tracksuit for lilac suit as Wanderers smell success at last. Round-up of A-League R7.

Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory pulled away at the top of the A-League, while Central Coast Mariners plumb the depths and the rest bunch up in the middle.

Wins by Glory and Victory consolidate their positions at the top, with Glory preserving their two-point advantage. The Mariners failed to build on good performances in the last two rounds going down to Western Sydney Wanderers, casting them four points adrift of Brisbane Roar at the bottom. A surprise win for Wellington Phoenix, away to Sydney, sees the reigning Premiers lose ground, while last year’s Grand Finalists Newcastle Jets returned to winning ways against a lacklustre Roar.

Wanderers coach Markus Babbel had some harsh words for his charges after last week’s capitulation against Victory. He lost the rag, tracksuited, at the VAR in the Sydney Derby in Round Two. Well, He obviously thought a change of tone was in order. Or perhaps he was going nightclubbing after the game?

Whatever motivated his striking fashion statement, his resplendent lilac attire correlated with a much-improved display from his team, sinking the Mariners with panache 2-0, for their first win in four games.  

The Nix almost banked three points against Glory last week but successfully channelled their sense of grievance as Fijian international striker Roy Krishna (twice) and doughty English stopper Steve Taylor fired them into an unassailable three-goal lead by half-time. All Sydney could muster in response was an 89^th minute consolation, going down 3-1.

Adelaide United contained Victory well and looked the better team for long periods of the match, but Victory’s superior firepower eventually prevailed. Stylish Swedish forward OlaToivonen finally quelling the Reds resistance making it 2-0 to Victory in the 82^nd minute.

The Glory then kicked off against Melbourne City, their local rivals, Victory, having displaced them from their top perch. Chris Ikonomidis’ stock continued to rise as he scored what transpired as the decisive goal shortly before half-time giving the Perth team a narrow 1-0 win.

City fans appreciated their team’s performance but bemoaned coach Warren Joyce’s continuing exclusion of Uruguayan forward Bruno Fornaroli, due to a training ground bust up, as pressure failed to convert to incisive attacks.

Last up in Round seven was a mid-table tussle matching the Jets with the Roar with the NSW side triumphing 2-0 over the Queenslanders thanks to clinical finishing from Kaine Shepphard and Brazilian forward Jair. The Jets leapfrog the Roar who now languish second from bottom.