Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka is happy his team are taking small steps forward after a disastrous start to the season. The reigning champions have recorded two wins and one draw in their past three matches to climb off the bottom of the table and Lavicka was positive after watching his side defeat Newcastle Jets 1-0 yesterday, despite it being a lucky victory.

"We are doing small steps forward now. Everyone knows we have plenty of room to improve this season, but I appreciate the players because they worked very hard on the pitch, we played a clean sheet in defence which is a very important step forward, and we reached our first home win this season," the Czech tactician said.

Lavicka knew the clash at Sydney Football Stadium would be a tense affair between the bottom two sides and was thankful that his team were the recipients of some good fortune when Bruno Cazarine scored after a cross from Hiro Moriyasu even though the ball appeared to have gone out at the byline.

"Two teams down the bottom of the league, fighting for their lives, it was always going to be an edgy affair. I think it was a decent battle; no quarter was asked or given across the pitch. Sometimes it takes a goal like that to win," he added.