Soccer: Herbert proves his tactical mastery

Andrew Durante (22) and Emmanuel Muscat of the Phoenix. Photo / Getty Images

The victory the Wellington Phoenix claimed from A-League front-runners Brisbane Roar under the roof in Dunedin midweek was as much a triumph for coach Ricki Herbert as his players.

Herbert has come under fire at times this season with his tactics often challenged by those on the outside looking in. In the early stages of Wednesday's game those naysayers would have again being sharpening their talons.

But to his credit Herbert quickly fathomed Ange Postecoglou's game plan, made the adjustments and he and his players went away happy with a deserved 2-0 victory.

The visitors pushed high, played a flat back four intent on springing the offside trap. Twice those tactics came unstuck and the Nicky Ward-Paul Ifill double act cashed in to leave former Football Kingz goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos stranded in no man's land.

Tactically, it was a victory for Herbert over one of the most astute coaches in the league who has seen his empire crash with three successive losses since the 4-0 win which stretched their unbeaten run under Postecoglou to 35 matches.

Tomorrow Herbert will match wits with Melbourne Victory boss Mehmet Durakovic in what promises to be another tight battle.

Six of the 13 matches between the two clubs have ended in draws. The Victory have been the king of the draws this season. Six of their 10 games have ended all square. Yet despite only winning twice, the Victory are just three points back behind the Phoenix albeit five places further down the points table.

One of the Victory's two wins was against the Phoenix - 2-1 at Westpac Stadium in round four. The other win came three weeks ago against easy-beats Gold Coast United.

Again in answering critics who have tagged Herbert's approach as unimaginative, only Brisbane, Central Coast and Melbourne Heart have scored more than the 12 goals netted by the Phoenix. Defensively the stats stack up even more favourably.

Only Central Coast - who face the Roar at Suncorp tonight - have conceded fewer goals (8) than the Phoenix's 10.

Key to that has been the almost ever-present central pairing of captain Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund. Toss in the no-frills commitment from Manny Muscat at right back, Tony Lochhead or Brent Griffiths on the left and Tony Warner between the posts and the Phoenix have developed into a formidable defensive force.

The Phoenix will win ugly if they have to. Tomorrow's clash with the Victory might be one of those games.

A-League

Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
AAMI Park
Tomorrow 7pm (live SS3)
Referee: Matt Gillett.