Same Phoenix XI likely v Reds in A-League

The Wellington Phoenix are poised to field the same starting XI for the second leg of their Australian A-League road trip.

The Wellington Phoenix have boosted their squad size this week but coach Ernie Merrick is unlikely to make any changes to his starting side for their important A-League game against Adelaide United.

The seventh-placed Phoenix stayed in Australia following Friday's 4-1 win over the sixth-placed Central Coast Mariners.

A rare win away to fifth-placed Adelaide would lift Merrick's men back inside the top six.

Midfielder Jason Hicks and young striker Hamish Watson have joined the squad but Merrick says that is to give the pair training time.

With no injuries sustained in the Mariners game, he says he will name an unchanged starting XI unless there are any late injury problems.

That means Manny Muscat will retain his midfield holding role while there is still no room to start striker Jeremy Brockie in an in-form attacking foursome of Stein Huysegems, Carlos Hernandez, Kenny Cunningham and Tyler Boyd.

Phoenix beat Adelaide 2-1 when the teams met in Wellington four weeks ago. Both teams have since won twice and lost once.

In 11 visits to Adelaide, the Phoenix have emerged with eight losses. They lost both games there 3-1 last season.


2 min read

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Updated

Source: AAP


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