Nick Sculley blogs on the Melbourne Heart for BPL.

Before Sunday I could never really relate to the phrase “God giveth and God taketh away” but I think after the end to Sunday’s game I can understand its significance. As an avid Liverpool fan I went into the game a little conflicted as to how I would feel should Robbie Fowler score against the Heart, however the manner in which it came left me livid!!

Sure Michael Baird has since received a two match ban for diving, let’s not beat around the bush when calling it diving, simulation just isn’t a strong enough term to describe it. That sort of behaviour might be acceptable in Romania but it won’t be tolerated in the A-League and by Australian sports fans. The Perth Glory took advantage of a debutant referee, sucking him in on numerous occasions with overly dramatic reactions to the Heart's challenges, none more so than Baird. But everything eventually evens out in this game, and I look forward to the Glory having a result stolen from them by an overly dubious decision!

That’s my little bitch for the week, and after a performance like Sundays it’s impossible not to be impressed by what the Melbourne boys dished up. Gerald Sibon is off the mark, albeit from the spot, Alex Terra was dangerous from the outset and the Hearts’ young guns continued to show that they are the match of any group of rising stars in the A-League. The stocks of Nick Kalmar continue to rise, and after a stunning goal he is receiving the plaudits his performances have warranted all season. 17-year-old Brendan ‘Sammy’ Hamill was ultra-impressive in his first start in the centre of defence, displaying maturity well beyond his years to combat the threat of Fowler and Branko Jelic.

Kliment Taseski showed something off the bench, and it is a travesty that his first A-League appearance will be blotted due to his involvement in the aforementioned penalty. The first win can’t be too far away with performances like Sunday's, and hopefully the Heart won’t be rooted to the bottom of the table for too much longer.

The issue of no ‘controversial’ replays being shown at soccer games is one that reared its’ ugly head over the weekend. The fans were left stunned and confused after Sundays game at AAMI Park, whilst it is rumoured that after Liam Reddy’s controversial, and ultimately rescinded, red card on Saturday that replays were shown on the big screen.

I understand that this is the case to protect the referees from any potential crowd violence should they make a bad call, although I contend that more often than not a replay would ease any animosity directed at the referee. Taking my red and white tinted glasses off for just a moment, I can generally concede when the referee has made the right decision, even if at first glance it has looked harsh. More often than not a replay will show the ref to have made the correct decision, and it would be nice to know this at the ground rather than leaving scratching our heads and cursing the officials.