Top-four finish still Phoenix coach’s aim

Ernie Merrick is playing down Wellington Phoenix’s title chances despite Sunday’s breakthrough 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.

The gutsy, come-from-behind triumph was the Phoenix’s first over the Victory in Melbourne and kept Merrick’s men right on the heels of the A-League’s pacesetters with eight games to play until the finals.

The Phoenix are in fourth place on 33 points, level with second-placed Victory and third-placed Adelaide United but behind on goal difference.

Perth Glory lead a congested ladder on 36 points, with fifth-placed Sydney FC on 32 and Melbourne City rounding out the top-six on 24.

The Phoenix have never won the A-League but Merrick knows what it takes, having claimed two championships during his time at the helm of the Victory.

Wellington face further tests of their title credentials when they host Adelaide at the Hutt Recreation Ground on Saturday, then make the long trek to Perth to tackle the Glory on March 14.

‘‘We haven’t looked forward to the championship yet,’’ said Phoenix coach Merrick.

‘‘It’s just about playing consistent football. The focus is on playing in the finals and if we can, being in the top-four. That’s what the players have set their objectives for, I’m not going to raise it any higher. Winning the championship is not in our mind at all.’’

Merrick is publicly keeping the pressure off his players but privately will understand the importance of finishing in the top-two at the end of the regular season.

The top-two teams get the first finals weekend off then host semifinals a week later.

No team has won the A-League from outside the top-two.

With the finals not kicking off until May, there is no point in Merrick talking up his team just yet.

But the players were understandably jubilant on Sunday as Roly Bonevacia, Michael Boxall and Nathan Burns scored goals to gatecrash Archie Thompson’s 200th game for the Victory.

‘‘It’s always good to win, especially against such a good team,’’ Merrick said.

‘‘For me Victory are the best team in the league. I thought we [Phoenix] got better and better in the second half. Our levels of fitness are extremely high.

‘‘Victory are a team that commit numbers forward, that’s why they score goals. But you have to leave yourself light on at the back to do that. I don’t think there’s any shortage of spirit in this team. Their tenacity, their determination to achieve, it’s a very strong group of players who get on extremely well off the field and on it.’’

Joel Griffiths made a strong debut off the bench and the former Newcastle Jets striker expressed his delight on Twitter.

‘‘Not going to lie, feels good to be in a winning team again,’’ Griffiths wrote.

Today there is no play at all. It’s the first rest day of the tournament. Why?

In a sport where players are able to front for five consecutive days in test matches, surely this schedule could have been squeezed up.

The Black Caps play six pool matches in 28 days. Given the luxury of operating at home, they are now enjoying their second ‘‘holiday’’ of the tournament already, sent home to spend some time with their families.

A World Cup shouldn’t afford luxuries like that. Put some heat on squads, keep the pulses beating of players and fans.

Look at the rest of this week – South Africa v Ireland, Australia v Afghanistan, Pakistan v United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh v Scotland – before there’s a bit of a heavyweight feel again next weekend.

Right now, apart from some alarming batting moments, the schedule might be the Black Caps’ biggest worry.

Do they keep with their winning formula or do they give some other players a couple of cameos against the minnows?

Can they hold their menacing momentum while they get so much time to cool their heels?

Don’t forget, after their last pool game against Bangladesh, they must wait an onerous eight days for a quarterfinal they have already been pencilled in for, at Wellington’s Cake Tin on Saturday, March 21.

The next three weeks are going to be a period when the performance of the management of the Black Caps will be as important as the efforts of the players.

Keeping them fit and fresh won’t be a problem. Holding their focus will be the key.

The last phase of the tournament is going to be a furious affair with all seven of the playoffs matches done in 12 days.

It’s just getting to that stage that is going to be painful.