Soccer: Patience is a virtue for luckless Phoenix coach ... but so is winning

Ernie Merrick is waiting for his team to click. Photo / Getty Images

It's fortunate that Ernie Merrick is a patient man.

The Wellington Phoenix coach has not lashed out at his under-performing side despite the fact that they are yet to have an A-League win under his stewardship.

Four draws and three losses are all the Phoenix have to show for a squad overhaul and a new style of play since the Scotsman came to the capital.

All the ingredients are there for things to click but a lack of application has resulted in them dropping two games to late goals this season, while an inability to convert in front of goal has cost them on more than one occasion.

The club needed a change following last year's disastrous wooden spoon campaign, and it will happen gradually, but Merrick has acknowledged in the past couple of weeks that the time has come for some marks to be etched in the win column.

Last Sunday's 0-0 draw with the Western Sydney Wanderers showed further promise, but again, the Phoenix didn't deliver the killer punches.

"Last week's stats from Opta shows that we had 14 scoring shots to their eight," Merrick said.

"We had 10 corners to their four and they played in the grand final last year. So I feel we are competing really well with every team in the competition.

"We are very unhappy we are not getting the win up, but it's not through lack of trying and commitment from our players."

One thing Merrick has been pleased with - and his players have agreed - - is the fact they have been creating chances rather than looking completely toothless on attack.

"If we weren't creating so many chances there would be some concerns, but the support's good, the attacking play is good.

"We've got two midfielders to keep possession and we are putting ourselves under pressure to win games. We'll be in the finals this year."

That long march to the finals - the Phoenix are ninth on the ladder - takes another step in Perth tonight when the Phoenix meet a depleted Glory outfit who have been having their own struggles of late.

Seventh on the table, Perth were beaten 1-0 by Brisbane last weekend and have lost several players recently to injury.

They include All Whites striker Shane Smeltz, who has an ankle concern.

Rather than worry about what Perth will bring to nib Stadium tonight, Merrick has been forced to make some adjustments of his own this week.

Wellington will be without midfield maestro Carlos Hernandez because of a quadriceps injury, Albert Riera faces a match-day fitness test on a tight groin and Manny Muscat, who played well at left back against Western Sydney last week, is suspended.

The loss of Hernandez and the possible withdrawal of Riera could result in 17-year-old Matthew Ridenton joining the bench for a possible A-League debut, while veteran utility Paul Ifill has been pushing for a start after largely being consigned to a super-sub role this season.

"He's become a really important impact player," Merrick said of Ifill. "Now we are looking at him playing from the start. He's certainly demonstrating at training that he's capable of doing that."

Wellington will welcome back striker Jeremy Brockie who missed last week's game against the Wanderers with a minor hamstring tear, while Reece Caira, who started the first six games of the season at left back, will take Muscat's place after being rested last Sunday.