Soccer: Two sides hoping to bury 'worst game' tag

David Mulligan. Photo / Brett Phibbs

When Team Wellington line up against Auckland City at David Farrington Park this afternoon, one thing is certain - the game won't be as bad as the same fixture last season.

In what many, including City supporters, tagged as the worst game of the season, the visitors won 1-0 at Newtown Park.

Team Wellington had a nightmare start last season, losing their first three games at home, but charged back to make the play-offs.

Now, with a new-look team and rekindled enthusiasm, coach Stu Jacobs, is confident he will be in the ASB Premiership race.

With only limited preparation as the club sorted out off-field woes, he brought his team north for the season-opener against Waitakere United and held the favoured home side to 2-0 - a result which flattered Waitakere.

But, while Waitakere and Auckland City followed up those opening weekend outings with O-League fixtures last weekend, Jacobs and his players were left with a far from ideal two-week gap between games.

Past results between the two clubs are heavily in City's favour as they have won 13 of 17 games.

Under the new coaching partnership of Aaron McFarland and Ramon Tribulietx, City edged home 3-2 over Waikato away and beat AS Magenta 3-0.

David Mulligan has quickly shown out as their go-to player with three goals from set play but McFarland expects more from his All Whites midfielder.

He says Mulligan's lack of constant match play has left him "a bit rusty" but he expects him to quickly return to his best with more game time.

After an only average effort against Waikato, City picked up the pace against the New Caledonians and given the advantage of 180 minutes of football in back-to-back outings, they might be a little ahead of Team Wellington for this one.

Waitakere United hit the road for the first time this season, but coach Neil Emblen is under no illusions as he prepares to play a Hawkes Bay team he rates as "decent".

With his team yet to hit their straps, Emblen is contemplating changes but he might hold back until after this game before making such calls.

"Players like Timmy Myers, Sean Lovemore and Mike Gwyther are putting the pressure on the guys who have been starting," said Emblen.

"I need to see more from players like Allan Pearce, Martin Bullock and Chris Bale or I will start looking at changes."

Emblen says he finds himself in a similar situation to Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho.

"He said that while he basically has the same team as they had last season, they haven't clicked," said Emblen.

"He said that while they are not doing overly well they are winning and he is persisting with the same players. I feel we are in the same situation."

If there is to be a change to the starting X1 at Park Island tomorrow, it will probably be at the back with Myers replacing young Ashton Pett at left back.

Emblen feels Myers is capable of putting pressure on all his defensive players.

Hawkes Bay coach Matt Chandler has recruited well and will put out a team with current or former internationals including Jonathan Taylor, Jarrod Smith and Cole Peverley.

Emblen faces a real challenge if he is to add to the 11 victories his side have scored over the Bay who have only won twice in 16 encounters.

Team Wellington v Auckland City

* David Farrington Park, Wellington

* Today 2pm

* Referee: Nick Waldron

* Hawkes Bay United v Waitakere United

* Park Island, Napier

* Tomorrow 2pm

* Referee: Chris Kerr