Melbourne Victory coach Mehmet Durakovic has fired a rocket at sent-off midfielder Billy Celeski, saying he let his teammates down with the A-League side’s latest red card.

Celeski will now miss the important derby against Melbourne Heart on Friday night for swinging a needless elbow at Wellington Phoenix midfielder Vince Lia during the Victory’s 3-1 home win on Sunday.

It earned Celeski a second yellow card, his marching orders and suspension for a match set to define Victory’s season.

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The usually placid Durakovic was also seeing red afterwards.

He said he had given Celeski a dressing down about a trait becoming far too common at the Victory following the needless sending-off of defender Rodrigo Vargas two weeks ago.

“For me, it’s totally unacceptable. He’s let himself down and the players down,” Durakovic said.

“I just told him in front of all the players, basically he’s let himself and everybody else down.”

It is the Victory’s fifth red card in 11 matches – with Celeski, Vargas, Matthew Foschini, Ante Covic and skipper Adrian Leijer all marched this season.

At least the Victory have a ready-made replacement, with veteran midfielder Grant Brebner likely to step straight in.



If Vargas is any guide, Celeski can expect a tough job breaking back into the squad when his suspension expires.

Despite his availability this weekend, Vargas was left out of the squad and will struggle to return for the Heart match as young replacement Petar Franjic was excellent against the Phoenix.