Photo:  Harry Kewell was substituted after an hour [PlessPix]

(A-League, AAMI Park, Melbourne, Saturday, 4 February 2012)

Melbourne Heart 0

Melbourne Victory 0

Att: 26,395   Ref: M Gillett

Melbourne Heart: Bolton  -  Marrone, Colosimo, Good, Goodwin  -  Worm, Sarkies, Srhoj (Reid 78)  -  Germano, Babalj, Terra (Williams 69)  (Subs not used:  Hamill, Mattei}

Melbourne Victory: Covic  -  P Franjic, Leijer, Milligan, Fabio  -  Broxham, Brebner, Rojas, Kewell (Allsopp 60)  -  Thompson, Solorzano (Hernandez 70)  (Subs not used:  Vargas, Velaphi)

Photo:  Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Ante Covic had another excellent game [PlessPix]

Melbourne Heart remained fifth while Melbourne Victory moved up to seventh on goal-difference after the sides played out a goalless draw this evening.

Heart had the better of the match and had the ball in the net at one stage through Alex Terra, but the effort was ruled out for off-side.  They have now gone seven games without a win.

Victory captain Adrian Leijer played after painkilling injections, while Harry Kewell may also have had an injury and was substituted after just an hour.

Carlos Hernandez started on the bench for Victory and, when he did come on with 20 minutes remaining, was largely ineffective, especially after Victory were reduced to 10 men when Grant Brebner was sent for a studs-up tackle on Eli Babalj.  It was all hands to the pump rather than all-out attack after that.  Hernandez did take some free-kicks, but they posed no danger to Clint Bolton.

Photo:  Roddy Vargas could only make the Victory bench but did not get a run [PlessPix]

Heart came close to scoring in the first half, but Germano’s header at the far post bounced down off the crossbar and the ball was cleared.

Rutger Worm fired wide for Heart, as did Jean Carlos Solorzano for Victory as the first half ended scoreless.

Ante Covic did well to keep out a Kristian Sarkies free-kick, clattering into a post in the process.

Photo:  Melbourne Victory coach Jim Magilton said his team is still a work in progress [PlessPix]

After the break, Covic denied Babalj, while Victory substitute Daniel Allsopp blazed wide of the target.

Heart substitute David Williams fed Sarkies for a glorious chance near the end, but Covic raced off his line and did enough to force the Heart man to shoot over the bar.

The match drew to a close with Covic tipping a Craig Goodwin effort wide in brilliant style and Michael Marrone shooting wide.

Victory were unconvincing and Archie Thompson was again a disappointment.

Photo:  Melbourne Victory's Marco Rojas had a quieter game than in Launceston against Gold Coast United [PlessPix]

Photo:  Melbourne Victory's Carlos Hernandez is looking more and more peeved each week as he continues to start as a substitute [PlessPix]