Refs urged to protect star striker
FOOTBALL: In a call for referees to protect Roy Krishna, Wellington Phoenix coach Mark Rudan says the star striker has become a target of rough play early in A-League games.
Krishna shook off the Western Sydney Wanderers’ heavy attention to score two goals in the Phoenix’s 3-2 win and sit third on the goalscorers’ chart this season with seven.
But Rudan is incensed by the mounting foul count against Krishna and fears the speedy Fijian international will become increasingly targeted.
The Phoenix’s opponents this evening, the Central Coast Mariners, fouled Krishna six times when they visited Wellington last month.
“I think there should be a duty of care ... I’ve got to protect all my players, but Roy’s one that has been targeted quite often in the early stages of a game over the last five to six weeks in particular,” Rudan said.
“A lot of teams have now seen what Roy’s capable of doing ... I’d expect a level of protection there, particularly when someone continues to get targeted.”
While the Phoenix are the second most-fouled team overall, behind the Melbourne Victory, they are also close to being the most foul-heavy side, pipped by the Brisbane Roar.
Rudan has a chance to freshen his attack in Wellington by introducing Cillian Sheridan alongside Krishna, after the Irish striker’s sparkling debut off the bench against the Wanderers.
It’s the sort of option Central Coast coach Mike Mulvey would love given the injuries that have plagued his lastplaced team this season.
With just two points from 11 games, Mulvey has been the subject of media reports that he is losing the support of his players.