Phoenix search for winning formula
Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay has hinted at making changes for today’s clash with Melbourne City but feels his newlook team is not far away from producing a performance that will result in points.
The Phoenix will equal their worst start to an A-League season if they suffer a defeat against the injury-hit City in Melbourne, having lost their first three games against Western United, Sydney FC and Perth Glory by one-goal margins.
‘‘I think we’re not too far away but maybe there will be a couple of changes this weekend,’’ Talay said. ‘‘The results haven’t gone our way but the football has been good. We’re just a win away and I think we’ll have a snowball effect once we get those three points.
‘‘The belief is there with the players. The week has been good again, it’s been very positive and the players know we are just a whisker away from getting a result.’’
One player knocking on the door for a start is left winger Reno Piscopo. Kept out of the starting 11 by impressive Kiwi youngster Callum McCowatt, Piscopo had a positive impact when he came off the bench against the Glory.
‘‘Everyone is putting their hand up and they’re all working hard but I believe in consistency, and even though we haven’t got the results we’ve been playing very good football, it’s just about getting the ball in the back of the net and starting off [well],’’ Talay said. ‘‘I think it’s very important we get a clean sheet and then obviously goals change games and the opportunities that we create, if we put one in the back of the net, it will change the game completely.’’
Final execution remains the biggest work-on for the Phoenix, having scored just one goal from open play in three games. Talay said he had introduced more finishing drills during training to help his players build their confidence in front of goal.
Gary Hooper should help the Phoenix in the goal-scoring department, but Talay has indicated he does not want to rush his new striker as he continues to work his way up to match fitness. Hooper saw 15 minutes against the Glory and won the penalty which Ulises Davila converted in stoppage time.
‘‘Gary has been really good. Yesterday we did some finishing drills and he’s very good in that sort of sense. We plan to give him some minutes so hopefully he can make an impact.
‘‘Elite sport is a confidence thing as well and when you know you’re scoring goals you ride a wave and it continues on and winning becomes a habit as well, so we work on that in training, we work on finishing drills and we put them in areas they’re going to be in, with the way we play and the way we set up, to execute it.’’
In a major boost for the Phoenix, City will be without inform striker Jamie Maclaren and defender Richard Windbichler due to hamstring injuries, while defender Harrison Delbridge is serving a one-game suspension following his red card against Western last week.