Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano is wary of a “dangerous” Brisbane Roar side ahead of their meeting with the Isuzu UTE A-League’s cellar dwellers.
The Phoenix are playing host to the Roar at Sky Stadium on Thursday afternoon in their second annual Waitangi Day fixture.
Brisbane sit four points adrift at the bottom of the A-League ladder with just one win and two draws from their 14 matches to date, but Italiano isn’t paying any attention to their position on the table.
“I’ll give you an interesting stat,” he told media before training on Wednesday. “They have almost double the highest shot ratio to any team in the A-League, which means they’re actually one of the most dangerous teams.
“Where they’re not effective is in terms of conversion rate and that could be inexperience, but the fact they’ve got high creation output means that they’re doing something right.
“You saw against Sydney they absolutely destroyed them in that first 60 minutes and scored four goals, so they have the potential to hurt any team.
“If you asked the coaching staff one team that we feared playing at the beginning of the year was Brisbane because they were doing so well in all of their games. They just couldn’t capitalise.
“We give them a lot of respect and we’re not going into the game thinking it’s an easy game. Far from it. They’re going to be a hard game and if we win it’s going to be well-earned.”
The Nix enter the round in 10th place, six points adrift of the top six.
They’re unbeaten in their past three matches and need another three points to remain in finals contention ahead of a tough run of four road matches in five weeks.
“Look it’d be great to win at home. Any successful team they make their home a fortress.
“But…my focus now is game by game. I’m not focusing on the top six or the four, I’m literally just focusing on half to half [and] making sure we put in some good performances.
“I think this refocus from the group as a collective has been very positive since Adelaide. I can see a real focus back in the group.
“Again, I don’t want to talk about the [top] six because any talk about something that’s in the future is going to create some anxiety and I don’t want that.
“I just want the prime focus on our performance and if we’re good enough we’ll make it. If we’re not, so be it.”
Young ‘keeper Alby Kelly-Heald has been in goal for the past three matches and Italiano is impressed with how Josh Oluwayemi has responded to his demotion.
“Joshy has been really good at training. He’s refocused and wanting to prove that he wants to be number one and given the opportunity again that he’s ready for it.
“There’s a healthy respect between all the goalkeepers and a good relationship with the goalkeeper coach as well.
“Alby’s been working very, very hard and Dublin [Boon], our third ‘keeper, has been working very hard as well.
“Any really good environment you need to have healthy competition for places. That drives competition and also a good understanding and respect for each other goes a long way.”
Giancarlo Italiano is hoping to be able to call-on experienced fullback Tim Payne on Waitangi Day.
Payne has been sidelined for the past four matches with a foot injury but has been cleared to feature against Brisbane.
“Probably more a cameo role off the bench and just integrate him over the next couple of weeks and build his loads and make sure he’s fit for the last stretch of games.”
Club captain Alex Rufer hasn’t featured this year because of illness and won’t be returning “anytime soon”, but he has resumed light training this week.
Brisbane Roar have been bolstered by the recent additions of centre back Austin Ludwik and Young Socceroos forward Nathan Amanatidis.
The round 18 Isuzu UTE A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Brisbane Roar is scheduled to kick-off at Sky Stadium in Wellington at 5pm Thursday and will be broadcast free-to-air on Sky Open, and LIVE on Sky Sport 1 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 31 March 2024 – Wellington Phoenix 1 Brisbane Roar 0
All-time A-League head-to-head: Phoenix 13W, Roar 21W & 15D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 15. Isaac HUGHES, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 23. Luke SUPYK, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 36. Xuan LOKE, 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER.Unavailable: 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 14. Alex RUFER (c) (illness), 21. Marco ROJAS (injured).
Brisbane Roar squad (two to be omitted): 1. Macklin FREKE (gk), 3. Corey BROWN, 6. Austin LUDWIK, 7. Rafael STRUICK, 8. Walid SHOUR, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 13. Henry HORE, 14. Pearson KASAWAYA, 15. Hosine BIILITY, 17. Nathan AMANATIDIS, 18. Jacob BRAZETE, 19. Jack HINGERT, 21. Antonee BURKE-GILROY, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 24. Sam KLEIN, 26. Jay O’SHEA (c), 27. Ben HALLORAN, 29. Matt ACTON (gk), 35. Louis ZABALA, 43. Adam ZIMARINO.
Unavailable: 4. Ben WARLAND (injured), 12. Lucas HERRINGTON (international duty).
Main image: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.
