Phoenix undaunted by Victory

WELLINGTON: Away to Melbourne Victory? Bring it on.

It is the sort of sentiment you would never expect from a coach of Wellington Phoenix but these are heady times for Mark Rudan’s overachieving team.

A club record 41 win over the Brisbane Roar in Wellington on Saturday was its third on the trot, its longest streak for nearly four years and a result which cements its place in the top six.

Three matches on the road loom over the festive season but it is not a daunting prospect to Rudan, including Friday’s match in Melbourne against the defending champion, which has snared 19 of a possible 21 points since round two.

‘‘Confidence is skyhigh, belief is skyhigh and we’ll take on anyone right now. We’ve got nothing to lose,’’ he said

‘‘We did a job on them [Victory] in preseason but they’re a different team now, like we are.

‘‘Happy days, beautiful, let’s take these challenges on. Love it.’’

Sparked by brilliant teenage maestro Sarpreet Singh, the Phoenix is playing on another level to its defencefirst approach of the early rounds.

Nine goals in the past three games reflects the chances it is now creating, although the past two wins have been favourable home ties against teams slumping badly, including the lastplaced Central Coast.

The Roar performance was the first time the Phoenix has won a second half this season and Rudan said it showed how this side had developed since a home loss to Adelaide United last month.

In both games it conceded a goal near halftime to be 11 at the break. Against Adelaide it went on to mentally implode whereas the response against Brisbane was the sign of a maturing team.

‘‘I sat there not as a coach but as a fan,’’ Rudan said.

‘‘I was no different to the other people out there, I was cheering. It was fantastic to see.’’ — AAP