As far as Melbourne City is concerned, the Mooy, the merrier, as their talismanic midfielder inspired them to a morale-boosting 5-1 win over Perth Glory at AAMI Park on Friday night. The visitors finished the game with 10 men after Glory debutant Aryn Williams was sent off nine minutes from time, but the result was a foregone conclusion by then.

The victory lifts John van 't Schip's side into the top six and is City's first win since beating Adelaide at Cooper Stadium at the start of November. It also relieves the pressure on the Dutchman, who is still missing several first choice players through injury.

In the past 12 months, Aaron Mooy has emerged as the A-League's most influential player, become a regular Socceroo and attracted the interest of numerous overseas clubs.

This week he became a father for the first time when his daughter, Skylar, was born.

But if he was suffering from any sleepless nights or had his mind on other things, he certainly didn't show it in a magnificent performance against the West Australians.

He was everywhere in a first half in which City, boosted by the return to first team action of Socceroo full back Ivan Franjic, ran up three goals. The only disappointment for the home side was that they conceded a goal in stoppage time when Perth gave themselves a glimmer of hope with a header from Brazilian striker Sidnei Sciola.

Mooy was always an outlet for any of his teammates when they were under pressure, his excellent first touch allowing him to control the ball whenever, and wherever, it was passed to him, his strength allowing him to hold off challengers in the congested midfield.

The only knock on the 25-year-old is that he lacks some pace. But in a competition like the A-League, Mooy's array of other weapons — dribbling skills, vision, a fierce shot and the ability to hit telling passes short or long — more than compensate for any lack of speed.

All of those attributes were on show in a tremendous first half where he created all three City goals.

The first came in the sixth minute, and it showcased Mooy's expertise from a set-piece. His free-kick from wide on the right floated over the Perth defence to where Erik Paartalu had escaped his marker to get a header which took a deflection as it went past Glory goalkpeeper Ante Covic.

Mooy's dribbling skills were on display in the 19th minute when he set up Connor Chapman for his first goal in the A-League with another header. Mooy skipped down the right, seeing off first Marc Warren and then Diego Castro with dummies before delivering the cross which Chapman converted.

City went three up in the 35th minute, and this time Mooy delivered a raking 40-metre pass to switch play, the ball falling perfectly into Corey Gameiro's stride. The young winger pulled a pass back for Bruno Fornaroli, the Uruguayan making space for himself by evading a challenge and then firing past Covic to net his sixth goal of the season.

Glory's hopes were raised briefly by Sidneii's header.

But they were snuffed out eight minutes after the interval, and once again Mooy played a part.

It was he who took the 53rd minute corner which Perth failed to clear properly. The ball fell to Harry Novillo on the edge of the Glory penalty area and the French winger smashed the rebound back with interest, giving Covic little chance.

The hosts kept up the pressure as they searched for a fifth. Covic denied Gameiro's header, then produced a fine save to prevent Fornaroli notching a second goal.

At the other end, Thomas Sorensen had to dive to tip away Warren's long range effort just before Gameiro, who has only just returned from a long absence with a knee injury, had to limp off having damaged his left knee in a challenge.

City got their fifth, this time from the spot, after Williams committed the foul which saw him receive his marching orders. Inevitably it was Mooy who stepped up to slam the spot-kick home.

His celebration? The baby rock and dummy in the mouth, made famous long ago by those other footballing new fathers, Brazil's Bebeto and Italy's Francesco Totti. Both, on this occasion, were completely appropriate.