Ricki Herbert. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Ricki Herbert saw the handing of a Phoenix tracksuit to his mate Brian Turner earlier in the week as an omen.
After their best 90 minutes this season, that omen became a reality.
After the ground-breaking upset win 2-1 over Hyundai A-League favourites Sydney FC in Wellington yesterday,
Herbert recalled a similar incident in his short time with the New Zealand Knights.
"Brian came along to give me a hand. He was given a Knights tracksuit top which he wore when we beat Queensland," said Herbert. "When they gave him a Phoenix tracksuit this week, I said it could be a lucky omen."
Call it what you like, it worked.
A much-rearranged Phoenix yesterday shrugged off the pathetic 1-0 loss in Perth to turn in something closer to what Herbert has been promising all season but had rarely seen.
For one reason or another, his hand was forced yesterday in putting out seven players who had not started in Perth. The switches, and a new-found enthusiasm, worked a treat.
The regular centre-back pairing of captain Andrew Durante and Jon McKain was gone: McKain to his sister's wedding in Australia - with Herbert's blessing under an arrangement made at the time of his signing - Durante to the same flu which had earlier laid man-of-the-moment striker Shane Smeltz low.
Regular right-back David Mulligan was out with a rib injury and ever-present goalkeeper Glen Moss sidelined with a side muscle problem.
"I was really pleased for the players and [club owner] Terry Serepisos," said Herbert. "We knew Sydney would come at us but in the end they ran out of ideas. We set out our game plan and pretty much stuck to it."
Turner spent the week with Herbert "as a friend". With someone to bounce ideas off, Herbert and his team came up a winner but he is not getting carried away, reminding all an equally tough challenge in Newcastle is just a week away.
