(Reuters) - Western Sydney Wanderers coach Marko Rudan is hoping his side have overcome last season's poor away after retaining their place at the top of the A-League standings on Saturday, with a 1-0 victory over derby rivals Sydney FC.
Zac Sapsford's goal 18 minutes from time secured the three points at Sydney Football Stadium against Ufuk Talay's team as Wanderers remained in pole position five games into the new campaign.
"Our away form last year wasn't the best and it's something we looked into deeply, whether it be the way we trained, whether it be the way we travelled and what we did with the travelling, or was it mentality," said Rudan.
"Certainly from a mentality point of view there was one thing I wanted to change at this football club; you've got to earn the right, and being hard to beat was the first step last year.
"And then, playing the way I want my teams to play, which we showed in the second half of the year, and now this year again, which was always important.
"But in terms of where, that doesn't bother me."
Wanderers won only twice away from their home stadium in Parramatta last season and Saturday's victory was their first on their travels in the league since March.
That win also came at the same venue where they handed a 4-0 thrashing to Sydney FC and Rudan was delighted to dish out another loss to his club's bitter rivals.
"The great thing is ... we won, and in their backyard," he said. "Really great for our fans, that's what I'm most proud about, because I bang on about it all the time.
"Our fans are great, our area's great. There's a bigger purpose, as far as I'm concerned, for this football club, and the players that represent it."
(Reporting by Michael Church; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
