Bully for us is new motto New interim coach Mike Valkanis shouts orders during an Adelaide United training session. ADELAIDE United is embracing its newfound bully status after identifying a physical and passionate approach as the key to its breakthrough win against Melbourne Victory. The Reds racked up fouls and yellow cards with abandon in the 1-0 victory at Hindmarsh on Friday night and the rough-house tactics worked as they became just the second team to keep a clean sheet against Ange Postecoglou's side this season. It was a marked change for a side that has been manhandled by opposition at times this season, particularly in a 6-1 defeat by Western Sydney. Coach Michael Valkanis was unrepentant about the strategy and is refusing to change his ways despite being sent to the stands for abusing a referee just before half-time. "It's the passionate side of me, I don't think it's going to change - I was exactly like that as a player so I just had a go at one of the decisions and off I went," Valkanis said. It's going to be hard to change that passionate side of me. To tell you the truth, I would love this team to be passionate like they were tonight. I really wanted the players to show that passion and aggression to want to win the game and that's the way we want to see Adelaide United playing until the end. That's the only way to have a winning mentality and move forwards, is to have that passion. Jon McKain, who was awarded the Kosmina/Muscat Medal for an assured performance in central midfield, said his team's attitude had served to rattle the Victory. "They're the games you want to play in, where it's tense, it's passionate" McKain said. And realistically, that's where we got them last night. The crowd came and gave it to the refs a bit and (Marcos) Flores - and it does help. McKain's elevation to the holding role and the introduction of Osama Malik at right full back proved successful, with Valkanis beginning to stamp his mark on the starting 11. The defensive frailty which saw Adelaide concede 11 goals in four games leading into the clash disappeared as Eugene Galekovic enjoyed a quiet night. "For me, that was the most satisfying thing," said McKain of the clean sheet. We cut that supply off and they couldn't get (the ball to attacking threats Archie Thompson and Marco Rojas). Valkanis will have to reshuffle his back four for Saturday's trip to play Sydney FC after Cassio picked up a fifth yellow to earn a one week suspension. Nigel Boogaard is available after serving a ban of his own and his return could see Antony Golec move to left full back. "I suppose that's the logical choice," McKain said. Bruce Djite is yet to be ruled out of the clash but faces an uphill battle to recover from a painful groin injury.