Sydney learn from past

Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka says his side have learned their lessons from their previous horror showing against the Melbourne Heart.

Lavicka’s seventh-placed side head to AAMI Park for Saturday’s A-League clash against Heart still very much in the hunt for a finals berth.

With a final round clash against the Jets still to come, Sydney are likely to need two wins to ensure a top-six place.

The first part of their mission comes against the Heart, a side they have never beaten and who inflicted an embarrassing 4-0 home defeat on them in December.

“Please don’t remind me,” Lavicka said when asked about that last clash by reporters on Thursday.

“We know they have quality. They play good quality football, especially if they have time and space to play quick counter-attacks.”

“We watched how we played them last time in Sydney and we were destroyed by them, but every game is different, a new challenge is coming, a new game is coming and we all believe.”

“We have a clear goal to reach the finals and this is an important step to do it.”

Lavicka said his team’s dominant 1-0 win over fierce rivals Melbourne Victory had given his side a huge confidence boost heading into the defining fortnight of their season.

“We all know our current situation,” Lavicka said.

“But after we beat Victory, the boys had a good performance that match and we picked up the three points and now we are more confident.”

“We know another tough game is coming this week, but they need to pick up the points as well.”

“So it’s going to be a very exciting game for both sides and a very important game for both sides.”

Sydney will be without midfielder Karol Kisel through suspension, and Lavicka is still to decide who will take his place, with Terry Antonis or Hirofumi Moriyasu in contention.