Wright time for Australia to bounce back

The last time Preston North End defender Bailey Wright played a match where his team conceded a goal was in an Australia shirt as they came unstuck in Jordan – it’s a feeling he doesn't plan to relive in the next five days against Kyrgyzstan and Bangladesh.

Socceroos defender Bailey Wright Source: Getty Images

With the Championship newcomer unbeaten in six games, clean sheet specialist Wright is now eyeing six points as the Socceroos seek to cast aside their Jordan hangover and regain missing momentum on the road to Russia 2018.

Australia lag Jordan by four points, but have a game in hand, and Wright - who is likely to start alongside either Trent Sainsbury or Alex Wilkinson at the heart of the defence against Kyrgyzstan in Canberra on Thursday night – acknowledges it's must-win time for Ange Postecoglou's men.

“It’s vital we get back to winning weeks quickly with these two games coming up and we're confident we can do the job,” he said.

“Jordan was a hard place to go but when teams come up against us as Asian champions they have that added motivation and incentive and we have to learn to deal with that.

“We need to be on top of our game to make sure we don’t slip up again ... we should have done a lot better in Amman (last month against Jordan) but there are still 12 points to play for in this group, and we have three home games to come, so it’s all still in our own hands.

“We have all been in the game long enough to know that sometimes you lose games, like in Jordan, and you have to learn from it quickly and move forward and make sure you improve.”

With backbone defender Matthew Spiranovic missing with a calf injury, the responsibility resting on the likes of Wright rises expediently, even if Kyrgyzstan, which Australia beat somewhat fortuitously 2-1 in Bishkek in June, are not exacting bristling with firepower.

“There’s no room for complacency, and you won’t see that from us," he added. "But we know we're expected to win the two games coming up, and we have to make sure we deliver.”

Wright has excelled for draw specialists Preston on their return to the Championship, with the club sitting 17th on the table with 17 points from 16 games and proving hard to break down.

“I relish the challenge of the Championship,” Wright said. “I feel I’m improving as a player at this level ... it’s not been easy but I’ve enjoyed learning and adapting.

“When you play against better teams and better players each week at better stadiums and on better pitches, you can only improve.”