Football: Merrick heaps praise on match-winner Boyd

Tyler Boyd of the Phoenix celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the round 14 A-League match between Adelaide United and Wellington Phoenix. Photo / Getty Images.

Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick heaped praise on young forward Tyler Boyd after his second half brace helped the Phoenix overrun Adelaide United 3-1 at Coopers Stadium on Wednesday night.

Kenny Cunningham gave Phoenix the lead against the run of play before Sergio Cirio equalised for United, but it was Boyd who stole the show with a double off the bench.

Cunningham and Jeremy Brockie had earned rare starts on Wednesday night in the absence of Nathan Burns and Roy Krishna and with Boyd's stunning cameo, Merrick said the trio made the most of their opportunity.

"Tyler, Kenny (Cunningham) and Jeremy (Brockie) are all starting for the first time really - Tyler didn't start but it was his first run for a while," Merrick said.

"But at training they've been showing they can score goals consistently and they were just waiting on their chances.

"Tyler took his chances really well and Kenny scored."

Merrick lamented a slow start in which the Reds dominated and looked most likely to score, but the longer the match went the more Merrick said his side were playing well enough to claim maximum points.

"I thought we came out the blocks pretty slow actually, the first 15 minutes I thought Adelaide were the better team - created chances and got their midfield game going," Merrick said.

"But we gradually crept into the game more and more.

"I thought we just come into the game more and more in the second half."

The Reds slipped to fourth on the A-League ladder and are now two points behind Wellington who entertain Brisbane Roar on Sunday.

United should welcome back a host of key players for their trip to meet league leader Perth Glory on Monday in a match Josep Gombau said he is confident the Reds can win.

"We will go to Perth and I think we can do a good game there," Gombau said.

"I think we have a chance to win.

"Some players are coming in - I think that we have everybody, Fabio (Ferreira), (Tarek) Elrich, Boogy (Nigel Boogaard), Chelo (Marcelo Carrusca)."

AAP str/ldj

-AAP