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Shane Smeltz has warned Gold Coast are ready to bounce back to their best against Wellington on Saturday after his former Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert claimed the A-League’s biggest braggers were looking “vulnerable”.
Herbert, who has an insight into Smeltz having coached him at the Phoenix for two seasons – including when he won the Golden Boot last year – says the Gold Coast are letting in plenty of goals and looking vulnerable after boldly declaring they would go through their debut season unbeaten.
His comments, mixed with Smeltz’s warning of a goal blitz, spices up the trans-Tasman clash at Skilled Park even more with the Gold Coast suddenly under pressure following three games without a win.
Herbert has seized on the fact the Gold Coast have let in eight goals in their past three games.
“There were some pretty bold statements at the start of the year from the Gold Coast around what they wanted to achieve,” Herbert said.
“There’s a bit of uncertainty around them now, they’re conceding a lot of goals. There is a lot of vulnerability there.”
Smeltz, returning from a red card which forced him to miss the 3-2 loss to Melbourne, wants to slot a few more goals against his former club knowing he’ll miss the following week’s showdown with the Roar to fulfil his World Cup Oceania obligations with the All Whites, who take on Bahrain.
The Kiwi international said this week he would be gunning for his former teammates and warned they could strike a team ready to unleash some anger after feeling aggrieved by their 3-2 loss to Melbourne.
“We are due another performance like we had against the Fury, who we beat 5-0 in our first home game of the season,” warned Smeltz.
Smeltz will link up with with another dangerman Joel Porter up front with the Gold Coast working back towards full strength.
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