Disrupting Brisbane Roar’s possession-based game will be key if Wellington Phoenix want another A-League home win on Sunday, coach Ricki Herbert says.
The Phoenix are sitting second on the table with five wins from their last six matches, one point ahead of the Roar.
Brisbane have picked up just three away wins this season, and have struggled for consistency after Sydney FC broke their 36-game unbeaten run in early December.
A 0-1 loss to the mid-table Newcastle Jets two weeks ago was reversed last Saturday with a 2-0 win against competition leaders Central Coast Mariners, leaving the Roar with two wins from their last six starts.
Herbert says the Brisbane team still pose a huge challenge, and play some of the best football in the league.
“They’re a good side, a good attacking team, and you’ve got to get your fair share of the ball because they like to keep the ball,” he said.
“The stats don’t bother us, but we’re going to have to be good in the front third of pitch. If we can get the ball there, we’ll cause them a lot of problems.”
With only seven league matches remaining, and the top end of the table telescoping, Herbert says it’s vital the Phoenix maintain the momentum they’ve built up over the last month.
“There’s a bit at stake but there’s still 21 points to go,” he said.
“We’ve got to manage that, get as many as we can and keep ourselves in the frame for the home final.”
Playing without gritty defender Manny Muscat, who picked up his fifth yellow card last week, makes life a little more difficult for the Phoenix.
However Herbert expects the versatile Vince Lia, returning from a knee injury, to slot with ease into a back four which faces a Roar attacking line-up which bristles with talent.
Danger man Thomas Broich is back from injury for Brisbane and looking increasingly sharp, while playmaker Massimo Murdocca and Brazilian Henrique always threaten in the midfield.
Albanian import Besart Berisha has notched up 12 goals for the Roar this season, who have also have been boosted by the early return of Mitch Nichols from national duty with the Australian under-23 team in Uzbekistan.