Queensland Roar made the long trek over to Western Australia in Round Four of the Hyundai A-League and were the first team to come away with maximum points after deservedly disposing of the Perth Glory 2-1 at Members Equity Stadium.
The pre-season optimism of Perth Glory fans is well and truly out of the window and after four games, the Glory are struggling for ideas and could be in for a very long season if the players and coach cannot improve the sides fortunes on the pitch.
The A-League is a very competitive and even competition and to be successful a side must make their home pitch a fortress. The Glory have had three of their first four games at Members Equity and have taken two points from the nine on offer, with the latest attendance of 7200 the lowest so far in 2007.
The Roar should have been in front after only five minutes as they launched a blitzkrieg on the Glory goal. First the impressive Danny Tiatto stung the hands of Tomich after a poor clearance fell to the ex Man City man on the edge of the area and minutes later an Ante Milicic low curler was palmed away by Tomich with Topor-Stanley doing well to force the rebound out for a corner as two Roar players converged on the loose ball.
But the gloom was lifted on 14 minutes as Jamie Harnwell, making his first start of the season put the Glory ahead with a toe poke finish from 14 yards after a delightful Anthony Danze pass found the big striker just inside the area.
The relief around the crowd was clearly audible and the players celebrated accordingly in front of "The Shed".
Two minutes later and the Glory forced Liam Reddy into a fine save after Harnwell had headed a long ball into the path of Billy Celeski who avoided a challenge and sent a stinging shot towards goal with Reddy at full stretch.
But the Glory lead didn't last long and on 22 minutes Roar had equalised after a corner was flicked on, the loose ball rolling towards Naum Sekulovski on the post whose lunging effort to clear fell feebly to Josh McCloughlan who stabbed home from two yards.
The Roar again came out firing after half time, Tiatto this time smashing a 22 yarder off the upright with Tomich beaten, the rebound falling to Milicic but he couldn't direct his header towards goal and the danger cleared.
Tomich was called into action on 64 minutes, tipping away a Reinaldo shot at full stretch after the Brazilian worked his way into the area.
The Glory game plan was being negated by the hustle of the Roar midfield and the home side were too often forced into aimless long balls from the back with no tangible rewards coming from it.
The home fans appealed for a penalty on 69 minutes after Celeski was barged over in the area but referee Williams waved play on to the disgust of the Glory technical area.
On 78 minutes the Glory had a golden opportunity to take the lead, a counter attack found Rukavytsya with only one defender to beat, the former State League player instead played inboard to Downey whose first touch was poor and Reddy was able to sprint off his line and smother the ball to the relief of the visitors.
Six minutes before the end and the Roar again silenced the home crowd with the winner, Matt McKay swooping on a loose ball in the area following a Danze tackle and curled a low effort into the far corner.
The Glory almost snatched a dramatic late equaliser in injury time, Simon Colosimo hitting the woodwork from all of 20 yards after a barnstorming run from Downey down the right touchline.
The fans are beginning to vote with their feet and for the first time some anti Ron Smith chanting could be heard from The Shed supporters towards the final whistle. Whilst only a small handful participated, more substandard football and results in future games will see the groundswell of angst towards the management increase in what could have serious ramifications for the current coaching team.