Soccer: Phoenix pair ready to strike

Paul Ifill intends to atone for Sunday's poor game against Sydney United. Photo / Getty Images

Paul Ifill and fellow-Wellington Phoenix striker Chris Greenacre are out to set the stage for a party at Wellington Stadium in tonight's A-League soccer match against Adelaide United.

After a less than bubbly performance in a 2-0 loss to Sydney United last Sunday, the Phoenix, who fell to joint seventh in the standings, were aware they needed to turn in a champagne performance to claw their way back into the top six.

Ifill said the Phoenix had been disappointing last time out and Greenacre and he had to take a share of the responsibility for that.

" I think it was all of us ... and up front as well. We [the strikers] didn't get enough ball but maybe we weren't in a position to receive enough ball.

"I think I could have done more and I think Chris will tell you he could have done more.

"I'll take it on myself to do that [tonight]."

Against Sydney, the players had a blueprint to work by but had not recognised when to make the transition into attack.

"We were happy to keep a clean sheet, [but] we never really went the other way and put it to Sydney.

"I think if we had attacked as we did against Brisbane [a week earlier] or against Perth we well might have got something out of the game," Ifill added.

Back at home after playing three of the first four rounds of the competition away, coach Ricki Herbert knows his side will need a sharper edge on attack to back up the 2-1 home win against Perth Glory in round two.

"I think against Brisbane Roar [1-1] we showed good attacking signs, but we'll probably look at doing something similar in approach to what we took against Perth," Herbert said. "The licence is always there for the front group to attack and win games and that'll be the stance [tonight]."

Tonight's starting lineup will contain a number of changes.

Defensive midfielder Jon McKain will drop into a centreback position alongside skipper Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund moved sideways to fill in for Manny Muscat, who is with Malta.

Crowd favourite Daniel is likely to replace an off-form Diego, joining Vince Lia, Tim Brown and Leo Bertos in the midfield behind Ifill and Greenacre. Goalkeeper Mark Paston will replace Reece Crowther.

Adelaide, ninth in the standings, beat the Phoenix 6-1 at home in their last meeting in December but arrived in the capital looking a little dishevelled with the added distraction this week of dealing with a nightclub incident involving defender Robert Cornthwaite, who has been suspended for two games after being charged with assault.

They also have a long injury list with Scott Jamieson joining Travis Dodd, Cassio, Kristian Sarkies and Fabian Barbiero on the casualty list.

- NZPA