The numbers that matter
Catch up on all A-League results and statistics on Flashscore.com.au here.
The big winners of Round 5 were...
Perth Glory, who for the first time in two years collected back-to-back A-League wins!
Glory were pre-season wooden spoon favourites, failed to win their first four games of the season, and were on the verge of an early season crisis after sacking David Zdrillic just two matches into the campaign.
Interim boss Adam Griffith was most impressed with the clean sheet against Macarthur, a most welcome change for a club that had just one shutout in their prior 14 games across all competitions, and he is keen for some continuity at the club and in his own personal endeavours, simply responding "Yes" when asked if he wants the head coach position permanently.
Granted, Newcastle Jets and Macarthur FC are not amongst the better teams of the competition at present, but wins are wins, especially when they had never defeated Macarthur away from five attempts (D1, L4).
The Glory now find themselves just one point out of the top-six with a trilogy of home games against Western Sydney, Sydney and Adelaide to come. Picking up four points or more across that trio of games would be a huge step forward.
Honourable mention goes to Michael Valkanis' Brisbane Roar, who followed up the league's most difficult away trip with a potential banana peel at home only to record another clean sheet. They look impenetrable in defence and willing to give their lives for one another, which is the Valkanis culture.
The big losers of Round 5 were...
It's hard to look anywhere beyond last season's runners-up who are now two points clear at the bottom of the standings.
Melbourne Victory are the joint-worst scorers in the competition and look every part of it.
They created only 0.79xG from 59% possession and 11 shots, and despite public opinion to the contrary, the first half was quite satisfactory for under-fire manager Arthur Diles.
Diles appears happy to accept such performances, whilst an increasingly livid fanbase is running out of patience with his tactics and his recruiting. How much longer until something gives?
Dishonourable mention for Melbourne City, who have won one of their last four A-League games and are starting to feel the toll of an Asian competition.
Genreau banned for two weeks
The only suspension from the weekend was for Melbourne Victory's Denis Genreau, who saw red following a VAR review for the below incident.
The independent Match Review Panel upheld the minimum two-game ban for Genreau after deeming it to be 'violent conduct'.
Goal of the Week
Perth Glory's Iraqi left-back Charbel 'The Barber' Shamoon takes out the accolades this week for this slick ball movement and well-placed finish.
What the managers said
Airton Andrioli, Adelaide United: "We're disappointed with the result and the initial part of each half. The first goal we conceded was avoidable. We only started applying our game halfway through the first half, and in the first 15 minutes or so of the second half we were not executing what we normally do well. That put us on the back foot."
Steve Corica, Auckland FC: "We created a lot of chances. 26 shots, four on target: I think that sums it up. We had the better chances but we didn't take them. They (Newcastle) took their two chances. They're a quick team that comes out of the blocks, which we knew about and spoke about, so to concede after three minutes is pretty disappointing."
Michael Valkanis, Brisbane Roar: "The game is about getting the three points. It's a results-driven industry and we want Brisbane to be proud of a team that is playing in finals. I think we're showing our passion and our competitive spirit week-in, week-out. Surely we are making people proud by how hard every player is working for each other. The boys are showing a mental toughness that I absolutely love, that you see from players in Europe."
Warren Moon, Central Coast Mariners: "We didn't lose the game, we kept a clean sheet, we respect the fact we played the champions of Australia. At the same time we felt optimistic coming here today to get three points. Their quality showed through at times and we defended really well. In the end we'll take the point, but our intention is to be more positive and get three points."
Mile Sterjovski, Macarthur FC: "I thought that was a very lacklustre performance. It lacked intent to go forward and Perth punished us. We need to have a look at ourselves and can't accept that kind of performance, despite the tight turnaround. It comes down to determination and not allowing a performance like that."
Aurelio Vidmar, Melbourne City: "First half we probably didn't move the ball quick enough like we did in the second half. We had no real sharpness in front of goal today, but I can't be critical because that's our third game in a week. The intensity of the (Champions League) game on Tuesday was very high. We tried to make some changes to freshen up. It is what it is. I'll accept it and go away with a point."
Arthur Diles, Melbourne Victory: "I don't think there was much wrong with the first half. We were competitive and fighting throughout the match, but we were on the back foot after conceding early. Each time we have (conceded early), the response has been excellent. I'm proud that the players didn't put their heads down and that they showed courage. For professional football to play on a pitch like that is laughable. It's not fair for players - of both teams, not just my team. We wonder why football in this country doesn't move forward."
Mark Milligan, Newcastle Jets: "In three previous games we had taken the lead only to give it away and lose the game, so a big focus of ours was the accountability and decisions we make in key moments. For me that was most pleasing. We know we can match it with anybody football-wise. We've still got a lot of work to do but we should be happy with the way we went about it today."
Adam Griffiths, Perth Glory: "The players are very happy and so they should be. We haven't two games in a row since Popa's reign, I believe. It's a big turnaround and the boys get all that credit. Macarthur have some very dangerous players so we tried to nullify them and I felt we dominated the game. We have a lot of players that excite me and some big defending performers. Clean sheets always impress me."
Ufuk Talay, Sydney FC: "Fair result, I think. We started to play once we conceded. I think the difference tonight was not quality of opposition or individuals but they had more hunger and desire than us. Sometimes playing good football is not enough. We were second-best at (the duels) and didn't match their hunger or physicality."
Alen Stajcic, Western Sydney Wanderers: "It was a good performance for 70-80 minutes and then we rode a luck a bit at the end there. I thought we should have put the game to bed earlier, but ultimately we deserved to win. Sydney fought back in the last 10-20 minutes like we knew they would so I'm really proud of the boys."
Giancarlo Italiano, Wellington Phoenix: "I was disappointed because I felt at 2-0 we were cruising and we had plenty of opportunities to score a third or a fourth. We let them back into the game. You need to be on for 90 minutes, because playing on the front foot with a high press, if one piece is out you're vulnerable. I also felt some plays in the last 20 minutes were underdone and those are the moments where you need to take ownership of the game. We need to be smarter if we are going to get anything out of this season."
Next week's fixtures
