The only change Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert will make for tomorrow’s vital home clash with Melbourne Heart is nominating a different player to take set pieces.
The only change Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert will make for tomorrow-s vital home clash with Melbourne Heart is nominating a different player to take set pieces.
Herbert was pleased enough with the side that fought out a deserved 1-1 draw with league leaders Central Coast Mariners on Saturday to stick with the starting XI tomorrow.
The only area that caused him concern was the delivery into the penalty area, especially from set pieces.
“We did some good things the other night and if we can keep building on that I don-t think we will be too far away,” he said.
“I don-t think I-ll change the team, but there are things we need to be better on. We talked about the crossing, and the set play delivery in particular wasn-t where it needs to be so you-ll see someone else taking up that role tomorrow.”
Herbert will also go with the same attacking bench, signifying he wants nothing less than the three points.
“This is a tough period, but it is exciting,” he said.
“Football through Christmas is pretty traditional now and being at home tomorrow night is a good chance to put down a marker.
“We-ve been careful with the players since Saturday to make sure we have a full squad to choose from and it appears to have worked.”
Melbourne Heart will arrive in Wellington on the back of a heart-breaking last-gasp loss to Victory in the local derby, and without suspended central defenders Simon Colosimo and Patrick Gerhardt.
“I-m sure they will wish those two were in but it is hard to feel sorry for them considering we had eight players missing when we played them in the first round,” Herbert said.
“They are a solid side and will feel hard done by that they didn-t get anything from the derby so we will need to be at our best.”
