LIVE football commentary returns to Injury Time with the blockbuster Melbourne derby in the Hyundai A-League!

It’s Melbourne Heart up against two-time champions, Melbourne Victory!

Both Melbourne clubs come into the game on the back of impressive wins, with the Heart actually sitting one place above their more illustrious opponents in 4th.

The Heart have been steadily building up form and have been one of the real surprise packages this season, and if you can believe it, if they manage to conjure a win this evening, they’ll move up to outright second on the table. Meanwhile for the Victory, a little bit of pressure was eased last week when they dominated Wellington Phoenix 3-1 at home and if they manage another convincing win of three goals or more against the Heart, the two teams will currently switch spots in the ladder.

Over the past 12-16 months, the Melbourne derby has firmed as the most passionate and intense local rivalry in the league and with both teams currently playing well, let’s hope we get a stunner of a match tonight!

Coverage will begin at 7.45PM AEST, with Gordon D’Mello on hand to take you through all of the action!

It was another fascinating Melbourne Derby as the Heart and Victory battled out a 2-2 draw. In the final derby between the two for the A-League season, the Victory blew a two goal lead as John Aloisi’s brace got a deserved point for the Heart.

Shocker... Muscat's terrible tackle on Adrian Zahra spoiled another enthralling Melbourne Derby.

However, it was Kevin Muscat’s late sending off after an awful late challenge on the Heart’s Adrian Zahra that will no doubt envelop the match in controversy.

Chasing down the winger with scores locked at two-all, Muscat launched himself, studs showing, to clean up Zahra and inflict what looks to be a potential serious ACL injury.

Muscat, who had just returned to the field following a previous red card, showed no remorse and looks like facing quite a lengthy ban when the match review committee looks at the incident again.

It was an unfortunate end to what was a thrilling match in which the Heart showed much character to fight back after falling two goals down in the first half.

In front of a mammoth crowd of over 32,000, Danny Allsopp gave the Victory an early lead with a composed finish, with talisman Carlos Hernandez then adding a second from a free kick.

Muscat’s involvement in the free kick will also be looked at, with the defender purposely pushing the Heart wall vigorously which allowed some extra room for which Hernandez to curl the ball into the net.

With things looking bleak, the Heart pulled one back with half time beckoning.

The lead up came from another super bicycle kick from Alex Terra, which allowed Aloisi to give the Heart a beat when it looked a little dead.

Then a calamitous piece of defending by the entire Victory side resulted in the equalizer.

A flighted Skoko free kick was headed onto the Victory crossbar by captain Colosimo, the ball getting semi-cleared, before being lobbed back into the box. It was that man Muscat again, who completely misread the ball allowing Michael Beauchamp to volley to Aloisi who pounced with another header.

It was the result neither side really wanted in a cracking derby, but no doubt the Victory will be the more disappointed, blowing the chance to establish some breathing space on their fifth place spot and with Muscat facing a lengthy ban.

In team news, Chelsea welcome back Ashley Cole and John Obi Mikel, the Nigerian expected to start his first match for over 6 weeks. However, Michael Essien is still carrying a long term injury. Chelsea also retain the prolific Didier Drogba, who has scored 10 in his last 11 against Arsenal, the Ivorian scoring against Hull midweek as well. Carlo Ancelotti has also confirmed that John Terry will start the match and as captain, citing that his behaviour is extremely professional and that in terms of training it has been “A very normal week”.

Arsenal on the other hand have more pressing injury concerns and while Abou Diaby is expected to pass a late fitness test to start; Eduardo, Carlos Vela, Fran Merida, Kieran Gibbs, Robin van Persie and Johan Djourou remain casualties. However, Cesc Fabregas has been in scintillating form, netting 11 League goals and notching 13 assists.

Wenger’s main concern will be his sides mentality against such physical opposition; with Sol Campbell fit it would make sense to play him and push Gallas out to the left, Clichy having a torrid time against Nani last week. This would at least give Drogba a physical equal and also give Ballack and Anelka something to think about with Gallas out on the left. Also, playing  Nicklas Bendtner as a centre forward and pushing Arshavin out to his more familiar support role would vastly benefit their goalscoring opportunities as most would think John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho will physically dominate the 1.75m tall Russian.

Ancelotti seems to have deffered to the 4-2-3-1 that Chelsea used under Guus Hiddink last season and with good results apart from the blip against Hull. The only problem with this system however is that Drogba prefers a second striker and that Anelka tends to disappear out wide, however Lampard becomes much more effective. With Mikel returning, it would be no great surprise to see a return to the 4-1-2-1-2 that was played earlier in the season.

Expected line ups:

Chelsea: (4-2-3-1): Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Cole, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.

Arsenal: (4-3-3): Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelan, Clichy, Diaby, Song, Fabregas, Arshavin, Bendtner, Rosicky.

Score prediction: Chelsea have got a point to prove against Hull and have the physicality to play ugly when outplayed. Arsenal it seems do not have a plan B and a lack of mental toughness, this could be their undoing; or at least until they can find a reliable centre-forward and a gritty midfielder. In my opinion, Chelsea will be too strong. 2-0 to the Blues.