Phoenix coach is not yet daring to dream
If you hurry, you can get odds of $18 for the Wellington Phoenix to win the A-League at the TAB.
Six weeks ago, you could have got longer ones, but you would have been laughed out of the building after handing over your money.
Seven matches without a loss later, it’s not quite so ridiculous – even if it does remain a longshot.
That unbeaten run means the Phoenix have equalled their record mark, set in 2009-10, the first season they made the playoffs, then repeated in 2014-15, the season where they had the most wins (14) than any other.
Those are widely considered the club’s two best campaigns, so when the current one begins to compare well with them, you have to start wondering what might be possible.
One man staying grounded is coach Mark Rudan, whose relentless positivity – at least when fronting the media – appears to have helped build a culture that has been the foundation for the his team’s resurgence.
After Tuesday night’s 3-2 win away against the Western Sydney Wanderers, which left the Phoenix fifth on the ladder, Rudan was asked: ‘‘12 games in, are you daring to dream?’’
The question had barely finished and he answered: ‘‘No.
‘‘It’s still very much a work in progress. You hear it all the time, but it certainly is that way.’’
Next up on Saturday at Westpac Stadium are the last-placed Central Coast Mariners, who are yet to win a game this season.
There is a seven-point buffer between the Phoenix and the Newcastle Jets, who lead the chasing pack, and a place in the playoffs for the first time since 2015 is looking more likely than it has at any point in the past three years.
Irish forward Cillian Sheridan made his debut for the club off the bench on Tuesday, setting up Roy Krishna’s first goal in the 82nd minute with a pinpoint curling pass before playing a key role in the buildup to his second in the 89th, which proved to be the winner.
Rudan has two places left to fill in his squad and confirmed he was not finished with the signing of Sheridan.
At a glance Wellington Phoenix 3 (Louis Fenton 36’, Roy Krishna 82’ 89’) Western Sydney Wanderers 2 (Brendan Hamill 43’, Keanu Baccus 84’) . HT: 1-1.