Soccer: Greenacre backs Phoenix to get back on track

Chris Greenacre in action. Photo / File

Wellington Phoenix striker Chris Greenacre says it's not time to push the panic button yet, despite losing at home for the second week in a row.

Last night's 2-1 loss to Central Coast followed last week's 2-1 defeat by the Melbourne Victory, making it only the second time in club history the Phoenix have lost consecutive games at Wellington Stadium.

It was also their third loss by the odd goal on the trot but Greenacre searched for the silver lining in the recent slump, which has undone any good feeling engendered by a positive start to the season.

"Last night wasn't the best game from our point of view, but our performances in the last two or three weeks, we've kind of deserved a lot more than we've got," he said. "We were probably still a bit hungover from the defeat against Melbourne but, credit to Central Coast, they came here and did a job and took their chances."

Central Coast took the lead shortly after halftime through Nigerian-born teen Bernie Ibini-Isei, before Greenacre beat the offside trap to equalise. The teams looked set to share the spoils until Phoenix old boy Troy Hearfield came off the bench for the Mariners to set up Matt Simon for the winner.

The Phoenix went 25 games spanning two years without defeat in Wellington, before consecutive losses to Brisbane and the Mariners put paid to that run last season. Even with their home record this season standing at 1-2, Greenacre said the Ring of Fire was still a blistering atmosphere for away sides.

"I think it's always going to be a difficult place to come. Teams may come here with a little bit more confidence but I think our confidence at home, even after the two defeats, far outweighs their confidence."

The difficulty level has lowered for opposition sides this season due in part to a depleted squad. Coach Ricki Herbert had only 15 fit players to call on last night, with the likes of Paul Ifill and Vince Lia both injured and Ben Sigmund suspended, but Greenacre denied the club's new owners were to blame for the bare-bones look of the team.

"Any football club throughout the world, the players and managers, always want to improve the club," the striker said. "It doesn't matter if you're at Manchester United or Wellington Phoenix, you're always wanting to be successful and the way to do that is to recruit.

"In fairness to the new owners, they've come in and steadied the ship. They've said they're going to get the club in a really stable position first and foremost. That does take a lot of time."

The next assignment for the free-falling Phoenix could not have come at a worse time. They make the trip to defending champions Brisbane next Sunday, to face a Roar side who put seven past Adelaide in their last game at Suncorp Stadium. The Roar have amassed 20 games at home without defeat - and 32 in a row in all venues - and Greenacre said stopping that run was all the incentive the Phoenix needed.

"They're on an exceptional run of form, but what a motivation it is to try to end that. That would be a fantastic scalp for us, and silence one or two of the critics."