KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - A 0-2 Pre-Season Cup defeat hasn't swayed Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert from the belief he can build an A-League soccer force this year.
Six weeks out from their A-League opener against Melbourne, the depleted Phoenix were only just getting acquainted as the Central Coast Mariners slotted two goals inside the first 35 minutes at Gosford's Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday.
In their first competitive hitout, the Phoenix eventually settled and didn't concede a goal after defender Steven O'Dor was red carded in the 53rd minute for a second bookable offence.
Goalkeeper Glen Moss, one of five current All Whites in the starting 11, helped keep the margin respectable with several brilliant saves.
"I think we're going to have a really good year and we've got a decent platform to build on," Herbert said.
"But we're not going to pretend we're like the other seven franchises.
"There's a lot of work to do in the next five-six weeks to bring them together. We haven't had the luxury of two years of combinations and people understanding each other."
Herbert said at least he had picked the players he wanted this year after being handed the struggling Knights late last season.
Herbert counted six frontliners who were absent last night: captain Ross Aloisi (suspended), All Whites midfielder Tim Brown (hamstring), Karl Dodd (hamstring), Richard Johnson (achilles tendon), Vince Lia (knee) and goalkeeper Mark Paston (foot).
Only Aloisi was certain of returning for next Sunday's home match against Sydney FC, as the others ease their way back in the next two-three weeks.
Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna also offered encouragement.
"I don't think they'll be too worried. They showed enough glimpses tonight, they've got some handy players and (Vaughan) Coveny and (Royce) Brownlie are two experienced boys up front. They're big and strong and they're going to cause problems."
While the Phoenix defence struggled, at the other end there were up to five genuine scoring chances, the best when Brownlie volleyed wide from close range.
Three of Herbert's four newly-signed Brazilians got a run.
Moss said the language barrier was a struggle for defender Cleberson, although the Brazilian had his useful moments, while midfielders Daniel and Felipe had a quiet time only days after arriving.
"You're never 100 per cent sure. You might get a good one or sometimes you don't," Herbert said.
"We've got four different types of footballers, whether they all evolve into the starting 11 I don't know but they're all useful."
Coveny, the retired former All Whites striker signed from Newcastle, is excited about the coming weeks but knows early results are vital to secure their Wellington fan base.
"We're on track. These games are good for us, we need good hitouts against quality opposition because we haven't had it," Coveny said.
"We could have dropped our bundle and it could have been five or six. As the game went on we got better and better. It's a long process and it'll take time.
"We created chances and that's a good thing. Defensively we just need to tighten up. If we do that we're going to be hard to beat."
- NZPA
