Home A Welcome Sight For Road Weary Phoenix

Match preview for Wellington Phoenix vs Western Sydney Wanderers.

It’s official, the Phoenix are in a slump.

After last week’s loss to the Victory in Melbourne the Nix now sit ninth on the A-League ladder, just two points above bottom placed Sydney FC. The good news is that because of the condensed ladder the Nix are also just two points away from sixth place, which is the lowest they can be come the end of the season in order to make the finals. To miss the playoffs this year would be a huge disappointment for the team and their fans especially after early predictions this side of the Tasman had them placed well inside the top four come the season’s end.

This weekend the Phoenix play host to the Western Sydney Wanderers who are defying all expectations in their debut season. Having been most tipsters pick for this season’s wooden spoon the Wanderers currently sit fourth on the table and look a sure thing to make the playoffs which would be a great accomplishment for a team in its first year.

The Phoenix enter this match on the back of two losses on the road to the Roar and the Victory, so Westpac Stadium will be a welcome site for the players.

Why the Phoenix can win?

If the Phoenix are going to have any chance at making the top six this season then these home games are absolutely must win matches. Skipper Andrew Durante acknowledged this week that the team isn’t meeting the expectations they set for themselves at the start of the season and that this match must be a three pointer for the Nix.

Although the results don’t reflect it, the Phoenix did play some quality football in their last two losses on the road. They created plenty of chances up front last week in Melbourne but unfortunately the Nix defense was not up to scratch. If Durante, Sigmund and co can tighten up at the back and look to provide attacking midfielders like Dani Sanchez quality ball then the Nix can go on and win this one.

Why they could lose?

The last and only time these two sides have met was in December last year, when the Phoenix came out on top with a closely fought 1-0 victory. However since then the Wanderers have gone on a bit of a run and prior to last week’s defeat to the table topping Central Coast Mariners they were undefeated in five matches. The momentum for this match is all in favor of the Wanderers and if the Phoenix aren’t in the game right from the first whistle then the men from Sydney’s West could pick up their first win in New Zealand.

Prediction

This is an absolute must win game for the Phoenix, and they will do just that. Ricki Herbert will have left his men in no doubt about how important this match is to their finals aspirations.

Phoenix 2-1 Wanderers

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