Wellington Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman remains confident the goals and the results will come.
After agonising back-to-back defeats on the road, the Phoenix enter round eight in ninth place on the ladder, just a point off the bottom.
The Nix have found the back of the net just three times in the opening five matches and have registered just one win.
But Priestman believes the team’s fortunes are about to turn around.
“To be honest some team is due a good hiding from us,” she told media after training on Thursday. “That’s how I feel.
“It’s very easy in these moments to change course completely.
“We have to stay on the process. I know it’s a cliché but you look at the data, you look at performances it’s going to come.
“Hopefully it’s this week. I’m hoping we can convert them moments that we’ve got and the bar doesn’t get in the way.
“We just have to stay positive and keep looking at the process to turn things around and go and chase Sydney at the weekend.”
Priestman says the forwards need to remain confident and not overthink.
“I said to the group ‘I want us to think less and feel more in that part of the pitch’.
“I also think it’s very easy to say ‘it’s the forwards’ but maybe you need to look at the delivery and what spaces they’re arriving in and fix the process.
“My job as a coach is to keep the confidence high in the group. Nine times out of 10 you play both them games you come away with three points and we didn’t.
“What I’m asking is more touches in the box will lead to goals and that’s the bit we’ve put more attention on.”
She says the focus for the team this week has been dominating in the final third.
“We’ve upped the challenge point in the final third to be more clinical and to make more of the crosses we actually get.
“We probably create some of the most crosses in the league but in terms of putting them away that’s been a big focus of ours.”
Sydney FC started the round in fifth place, four points above the Phoenix but having played an extra match.
They boast the equal best defence in the league, alongside the Nix and Melbourne City, having conceded just four goals.
“Credit to them I think they defend in a way that makes it difficult and we’ve identified how you might look to hurt that.
“I’m hoping it’s not a nil-nil game and it’s got some goals in it.
“We’ve tweaked some things to help with that but I really do hope that we can eat our Christmas dinner with three points in the bag and move on ready for our next away trip.”
Bev Priestman has named an unchanged extended squad for the match, with the same 19 players that travelled to Australia for their recent road games in contention to play Sydney.
There will be a moment of silence held before the match in memory of those that lost their lives at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening.
The round eight Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC is scheduled to kick-off at Porirua Park in Wellington at 4pm Saturday and will be broadcast LIVE and free-to-air on Sky Open and LIVE on Sky Sport 2 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 15 March 2025 – Sydney FC 2 Wellington Phoenix 1
All-time A-League head to head: Phoenix 2W, Sydney 6W, 0D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 2. CJ BOTT (c), 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Ellie WALKER, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Sabitra BHANDARI, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 13. Brooke NEARY (gk), 14. Lucía LEÓN, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 23. Brooke NUNN, 24. Pia VLOK, 27. Zoe BENSON, 28. Grace BARTLETT.
Unavailable: 6. Tessel MIDDAG (injured), 8. Macey FRASER (personal reasons), 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (injured), 18. Ella MCCANN (injured).
Sydney FC squad (two to be omitted): 1. Heather HINZ (gk), 2. Madison AYSON, 4. Tori TUMETH, 5. Kirsty FENTON, 7. Amelia CASSAR, 8. Hana LOWRY, 9. Jodi ULKEKUL, 13. Riley TANNER, 14. Abbey LEMON, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 16. Willa PEARSON, 19. Skye HALMARICK, 21. Sarah HUNTER (c), 23. Rubi SULLIVAN, 24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER, 26. Madeleine CASPERS, 29. Alyse OPPEDISANO (gk), 30. Tiahna ROBERTSON (gk), 32. Bianca GALIC.
Unavailable: 6. Shay HOLLMAN (illness),10. Indiana DOS SANTOS (injury), 12. Natalie TOBIN (injury).
