In the week leading up to the Big Blue, Kosta Barbarouses was branded "a snake" by angry Melbourne Victory fans. After scoring the match-winner for Sydney FC against his former club on Sunday, that was turned into a badge of honour by his new teammates who celebrated his strike with a chorus of hisses.

Barbarouses' second-half goal sealed the 2-1 win for Sydney FC at Nestrata Jubilee Stadium and went some way to endearing him to the Sky Blues' faithful.

Kosta Barbarouses starred in his first match against his former side Melbourne Victory. Credit:Getty

He admits the week leading into his first match against Victory was far from normal, having come under fire from the most vocal of Victory fans online. Success is often said to be the best form of revenge but Barbarouses said that was never on his mind. He played down the occasion, giving no time or energy to his taunts despite his teammates revelling in those jeers.

"It's not a big deal for me, the criticism and stuff," he said. "It's not a big deal, I don't make too much of a fuss over it. I am old enough to know what my job is and not listen to any of the outside stuff and I think we handled it really well."