Soccer: Phoenix call on fan support

Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante believes the fans can play their part on Sunday. Photo / Getty Images

Wellington Phoenix owe it to more than themselves to rediscover a winning touch for their A-League match against Newcastle Jets on Sunday.

This week's 0-2 loss to Brisbane Roar has left Wellington's playoffs ambitions in the balance as they sit in seventh place with four rounds of the regular season remaining.

They are one of three teams, including Newcastle, chasing the sixth and final playoffs spot and another defeat on Sunday would severely dent those hopes.

Captain Andrew Durante knows the outcome of this crucial match will mean a lot to both his team and their supporters.

Durante is confident of taking all three points, but he believes the fans can play their part.

"Our supporters, especially the Yellow Fever, have been fantastic right through, but if ever we needed them it is now," he said.

"Everyone realises how important this game is and the fans can help us get over the line."

The loss to league leaders Brisbane on Wednesday came on the back of two late goals to substitute James Meyer.

The Phoenix were comfortably holding the hosts until Durante deflected a speculative shot from Meyer into his own goal with six minutes remaining.

"That was heartbreaking," Durante said.

"We had worked so hard, kept to our gameplan, and didn't really feel threatened defensively.

"The Roar found it hard to get strikes on goal and I don't think they would have scored had they not got that stroke of luck.

"It was really unfortunate. I just stuck a leg out and Danny (Vukovic) had no chance. We chased the game for the last few minutes and that's why we conceded the second goal."

Coach Ricki Herbert will stick with the same squad he took to the Gold Coast, but won't make any decisions on his starting 11 until after training tomorrow.

"With the short turnaround we won't do much before Sunday and we'll see how the players pull up over the next couple of days," Herbert said.

"We have to be a good chance of beating Newcastle given our recent performances.

"The players know what is required of them. They were disappointed with what happened against the Roar, but we have everything to play for and making the playoffs is still in our own hands."

Wellington Phoenix squad: Danny Vukovic, Manny Muscat, Andrew Durante (captain), Ben Sigmund, Tony Lochhead, Vince Lia, Tim Brown, Nicky Ward, Dylan Macallister, Chris Greenacre, Marco Rojas, Mirjan Pavlovic, Daniel, Oscar Roberto Cornejo, Reece Crowther.

- NZPA