Stunning Heart hammers Victory

It was a night for Heart to savour. Source: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

THE Melbourne Heart juggernaut rolls on with the A-League's form side inflicting a derby record 4-0 defeat on Melbourne Victory to close within four points of the top six.

Heart dominated from the outset with Orlando Engelaar and Mate Dugandzic scoring within 15 minutes and Victory was never in the contest thereafter.

A dubious red card to Nick Ansell killed off any chance of a Victory comeback and rub salt into the wound Harry Kewell unleashed from distance for the fourth just two minutes after coming on -goal-machine David Williams added the other.

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Heart got off to a perfect start at AAMI Park. Source: Getty Images

Heart is now unbeaten in seven games having picked up 19 of a possible 21 points, leaving a mere six-point gap between it and Victory with finals now a serious prospect.

Engelaar was immense in midfield while Heart's gamble to play winger Ben Garuccio paid rich dividends with the teen full of energy in place of suspended Aziz Behich.

While much has been made of Victory's hectic schedule, it was no excuse last night with two goals scored before Victory players even had a chance to work up a sweat.

It was another magnificent derby stage. Source: Getty Images

While John van't Schip's selection of Garuccio mirrored him plucking Craig Goodwin from obscurity for the same fixture two seasons ago, Kevin Muscat dropped Nathan Coe for his Guangzhou Evergrande howler on Wednesday, starting Lawrence Thomas.

Thomas, in just his third A-League start and first of the season, was put under pressure from the get-go although he didn't get much help from the players ahead of him.

He turned the ball over to Engelaar after nine minute and the Dutchman's technique allowed him to swiftly release Iain Ramsay.

Nick Ansell pleads for mercy from Strebre Delovski. Source: Getty Images

The winger crossed first time and Engelaar effortlessly volleyed the ball home from close range after a Williams flick on.

Heart's second was fortuitous, as Mate Dugandzic delivered a floating cross which ended up in the back of the net surprising everyone including the in-form winger himself judging by his almost subdued reaction.

Thereafter tensions rose as tasty tackles flew in everywhere and even a melee ensued after Adama Traore lashed out at Williams just before the break.

It was perhaps ignited by Nick Ansell's dubious red card moments earlier for tugging Williams' shirt when he and was racing to get a foot on the ball before onrushing Thomas reached it.

Muscat dropped Leigh Broxham into Ansell's position and alongside another makeshift stopper in Traore, while Gui Finkler sat in alongside Mark Milligan.

Victory players can't believe the decision. Source: Getty Images

After appearing rattled in the first half Victory steadied in the second despite being a man down but it didn't result in any clear cut chances.

Muscat made a double change on 63 minutes bringing on Kosta Barbarouses and Connor Pain for Archie Thompson and James Troisi.

Kewell puts the icing on the cake. Source: Getty Images

But it was former Victory player Dugandzic with the next two chances, the first a volley over the bar from a tough height before his 70th minute shot was blocked by Thomas.

Williams' 83rd minute tap in and Kewell's strike just three minutes later compounded the night for Victory.

Heart even had time to hand an A-League debut to youth team captain Ross Archibald in the dying stages.

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