90 + 3 min: The decibel level inside AAMI Park has definitely risen, it’s a frenetic finish as both sides now chase the three points.

City look to work hard and get a corner, but they can’t make more of it.

Valeri goes in hard, some frustration for the Victory skipper no doubt, as their shot at going top for Christmas looks to disappear.

89 min: Galekovic looks for the quick distribution but they’re struggling to get up the pitch swiftly, City. Victory are defending deep, with Barbarouses getting through a power of work without the ball, as they leave Toivonen largely up front alone.

87 min: Troisi wins a freekick. Their experienced heads are starting to “game manage” this one, with Valeri also looking to control tempo.

And it’s a momentum-buster as Broxham is substituted for young Josh Hope. He takes the scenic route in leaving the pitch, to the ire of the home fans.

85 min: Big recovery for Atkinson, who just intercepts ahead of a fast-arriving Troisi! Key contribution from the youngster, or that could have been curtains for the home side.

83 min: They’ve not been poor, City - but they’re struggling to carve out clear final third opportunities. Cue glib references to Bruno Fornaroli.

Vidosic continues to work hard, as he looks to combine with the new man O’Halloran, but the chemistry isn’t quite there.

81 min: Freekick to City as Barbarouses comes in late, after loosing possession. Jamieson is working hard down the left, trying to spur his chargers, the City captain.

79 min: And an instant chance for the youngster, who’s playing just his 4th A-League appearance, but he almost dallies after the ball breaks to him, and the opportunity goes missing. Great scrambling from Victory defence, and Thomas isn’t tested.

77 min: And it’s Toivonen! But it’s just off target.

And we do see the entry of Najjarine, who replaces Brattan.

75 min: And after some sustained pressure it’s another swift counter-attack for Victory, and Schenkefeld ends up in the book for an off the ball tangle with Toivonen.

Freekick Victory, who fancies it?

72 min: And they’ve worked a corner well, Victory after fine work from Barbarouses, but Troisi’s delivery is too short and cut out at the front post.

A shot of Ramy Najjarine on the sideline, could we see the youngster throw into the action? There are huge wraps on the teenager, who missed a chunk of last season out through injury.

70 min: And on cue, Victory look to counter swiftly. It ends with Toivonen but he fires an effort over the top from long range.

67 min: They’re looking to lift the tempo, City. But that will of course only leave themselves open to a potential sucker punch should they overcommit going forward.

64 min: And it’s a first move from Warren Joyce, who opts for the double sub, with De Laet and Wales making way, for Atkinson, and Michael O’Halloran to come on for his A-League debut.

61 min: So what can they muster now, City?

It’s been a feature that with every win the ongoing absence of Bruno Fornaroli diminishes. But with the home side profligate in front of goal, surely a loss here would only raise further questions for Warren Joyce?

58 min: So it is perhaps as Joyce might have feared - with eight shots to three, it was City making the majority of the first-half running; and yet it’s Victory who take the lead, and if scores stay the same, they’ll go top of the A-League for Christmas.

54 min: And it’s end-to-end already, as Jamieson fires in a tasty cross, and it’s almost McGree on the end of it, but for the timely intervention of Brown! Good football all round.

53 min: And not for the first time Bachus is caught in possession - Broxham working hard, but the veteran’s shot is well-smothered. A whisker of an opportunity then.

50 min: Corner to City, as McGree presses well at the far post to hurry the Victory defence. But Thomas claims the lofted ball in well.

They look to play out from the back, but City harry well, and Roux almost gets in trouble in his own back third.

48 min: And that’s clever from Antonis who gets the better of Schenkefeld, but he can’t pick out a teammate centrally.

And an off-brand but still pertinent email from Phil as well:

A little off topic but I’m an angry man. John Aloisi needs to go at the Brisbane Roar. He seems to be able to take a half decent squad backwards without consequence. A once fine, dominant and respected club is being allowed to wither on the vine of complacency.

What do you reckon - 9th on the table, with only a rudderless Central Coast Mariners below them. Has the bell begun to toll for the brothers Aloisi at Brisbane Roar?

So - your reflection on that first half? Who’s looked most likely to tear open the game?

And an unrelated question:

Phil Withall has offered the additional suggestion of Jason Akermanis. That’s not a bad shout, Phil.

Let’s hope our Luke doesn’t decide to offer any views on the calibre or quality of women’s AFL anytime soon.

44 min: Wowee. I said it could be a decisive period for the match - and they’ve had a third gilt-edged chance in three minutes, have City, as Wales scampers through one-on-one with Thomas, only to offer a heavy touch that allows the ‘keeper to slide in at his feet and bump wide. Another let off.

Would Joyce see this as positive, or opportunities missed?

42 min: Big save! Griffiths with a fierce swerving effort from well outside the box - that’s traveled with real venom - and the Victory custodian does well to tip over.

And a minute later he’s called into action once again, this time from his own defender Deng, who thumps a defensive header straight at his own ‘keeper from the resulting corner!

That could have gone anywhere - near calamity.

40 min: And some fine interplay from Jamieson and Vidosic, but it finishes with an almost comical shot on goal, that skews violently out across the sideline. A touch of “Fellaini-on-security guard”, that one. But if possible - worse.

36 min: Still, they look the marginally sharper side, City, as Brattan nearly finds Wales open centrally. Important ten minutes to come, either side could make a game-defining contribution if they go in ahead before the break.

33 min: Big save! Galekovic does ever so well to stand tall - it was Toivonen who fed Troisi, and one-on-one inside the box, the former Socceroo can’t find the finish and sees his effort palmed away.

2-0 Graham Arnold.

30 min: A slight respite again as City restart a throw from an incorrect spot. Both sides happy enough for the respite.

Before Troisi has a chance to play through Barbarouses, but his lofted pass is overhit, giving the Kiwi striker no chance.

1-0 Graham Arnold.

27 min: It’s a terrific touch from Luke “Annie Lennox” Brattan, who bursts into the box with a lovely thigh control, but he can’t quite fashion a finish. Still, a fine move from City.

25 min: A first corner for City after some fine work from Wales. But they play short and it’s a little too cute, earning Bronx cheers from the “away” fans.

22 min: Bachus almost caught in possession, with Barbarouses pressing with intent. City recover, recycle and look to attack once again - but Vidosic checks his run and Griffith’s cross is easily dealt with.

19 min: Thomas with another save, this one a little more regulation as Lachie Wales looks to get in on the act - and no mistake from the Victory ‘keeper this time.

16 min: And a bit of a lull, after a breakneck opening 10-15 to this one.

Before some excellent defending from De Laet prevents a fast arriving Ola Toivonen from nodding home a tantalising Barbarouses cross.

And a reminder of that earlier fixture, a big statement from the Phoenix who move into the top four (albeit potential temporarily, should City win) after a third win on the spin, as the Rudan revolution begins to gather momentum.

And plenty of plaudits coming in for youngster Sarpreet Singh, who if you caught any of the early action apparently ran the show - adding a belter of a late goal to cap the win.

12 min: And if you’re not near a TV, suffice it for me to tell you that Luke Brattan has a naasty barnet going on. And this from a white man who once had corn-rows.

What is that - a tribute to Sisqo? Who can say.

10 min: Ooph. And another nervy moment from Thomas, who looks to rush off his line to sweep, but only manages to clip a miscued clearance straight to Riley McGree.

He’s scored some wonder goals already in his young career, but he’s lofted that effort over the crossbar! Let off, Victory.

8 min: Ritchie De Laet with his first chance to burst forward from right back, and he fires in a well-whipped cross, but it’s dealt with by Ansell, deputising in the heart of the Victory defence.

5 min: An early corner for the Victory, as Broxham charges into the box off Barbarouses’ clever ball, but his attempted dink cross is blocked by the covering defence.

3 min: And an early shout out to Vidosic, who this time last year was taking part in the Wellington Phoenix active support crew’s annual “12 Pubs of Lochhead” after falling hard out of favour with then coach Darije Kalezic.

Incidentally the Yellow Fever marked that annual celebration today, and if you missed the late news, the Phoenix have just rolled the Roar 4-1 in the NZ capital. Should be a merry night ahead.

A shout out to the hardworking staff of the city’s hospitals, who in unrelated news could be slightly busier than usual tonight.

So some tasty match ups for this one - given the Derby nature you can imagine some fair clashes in midfield, with both sides opting for a little more graft than silk. The man they call Foxy Broxy making just his third start of the season, his 272th appearance for Melbourne Victory - an absolute Big V legend.

The players are out on the pitch, and we’re not far from kickoff.

Team news:

So here’s your Victory squad:

Big responsibility on the shoulders of James Troisi, who after his frankly forthright comments midweek about missing out on Socceroos selection, could make a statement tonight - presumably fulfilling the No10 creative role normally performed by the absent Honda.

There’s no Niedermeier at the back, or Baena - both out through injury, with Jai Ingham still out with a niggle, and an inexperienced bench to call upon.

For City:

It’s a possible change of formation for the home side who have experimented a bit this season with five-at-the-back, but we’ll wait to see exactly how they line up. A rare start for Rostyn Griffiths who comes in from the start, and he could be the screen in front of defence, should Warren Joyce opt to match Victory’s 4-4-2 diamond, with Vidosic playing the No10 role.

No Berenguer, you’ll note - he’s still in the repairs ward, but it could be the first minutes of the season for Michael O’Halloran, who starts from the bench.

Evening all - from wherever you’re following this coverage, hopefully on the slide into festive good times, or like your humble scribe manfully soldiering on, to give you, the people, what they need. Goods and services.

We’ll jump straight to team news, where there’s a big breaking story:

Keisuke Honda is out. We await details, but the former AC Milan star is believed to have succumbed to a late injury.

So without further ado - team lists.