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One plays two when the Wellington Phoenix face the Melbourne Victory on Easter Sunday, in a game that will help determine the Premiers Plate. Join The Roar from 5pm (AEDT) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
Outplayed by Sydney FC last week, Wellington Phoenix missed a golden opportunity to break away from the chasing pack and it may come back to haunt Ernie Merrick’s side.
The normally potent Phoenix midfield was listless and lacking direction, with Dutchman Roly Bonevacia basically unsighted. With Michael McGlinchey back pulling the strings, Merrick has demanded more from this midfield.
Also returning for the home side are All Whites Louis Fenton, Michael Boxall, Tom Doyle and Tyler Boyd. But arguably it is the return of Socceroo flyer Nathan Burns, and his partnership with Fijian speedster Roy Krishna and the cunning Joel Griffiths, that could prove the difference between the two sides.
Melbourne were pushed all the way last week and it took two moments of individual brilliance from in-form playmaker Gui Finkler to get them over the line against the Mariners. However the Victory head across the ditch confident of reversing result from the last time these two sides met.
On that occasion the Phoenix twice came from behind to win 3-2 at AAMI Park and Victory veteran Leigh Broxham believes his side can rectify the “few silly mistakes” they made at the beginning of March:
“We know where we went wrong last time; there were a few silly mistakes. We were still able to create chances against them and obviously we could’ve defended a bit better so I think these things are easily rectified.”
Broxham is no certainty to retain his position in the starting line-up as coach Kevin Muscat welcomes back Jason Geria, Scott Galloway and Daniel Georgievski from international duty.
With top spot on offer, Muscat will give skipper Mark Milligan, who returned from international duty with a knee complaint, every opportunity to prove his fitness, which means Rashid Mahazi is likely to miss out.
Victory have a game in hand, so Merrick knows anything less than three points against his old team could spell the end of Wellington’s chances of holding the Premiers Plate aloft at season’s end. Join The Roar from 5pm (AEDT) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
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