Matchweek 9 preview: Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix

The league’s bottom-two sides will lock horns when Melbourne Victory host Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park on Wednesday night.

The final fixture of Matchweek 9 sees the 11th-placed Phoenix travel to face a Victory outfit at the foot of the table, bereft of confidence in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

Wellington followed up successive losses with a draw against Western Sydney Wanderers earlier in the Matchweek. Ufuk Talay’s side put on a much-improved performance against the Wanderers, showing grit and fight to respond after giving up a one-goal lead to go 2-1 down and ultimately score an equaliser, earning a share of the points at WIN Stadium.

Meantime Victory struggled at home to Newcastle Jets, losing 1-0 on Saturday afternoon in the fixture before Wellington’s draw with the Red and Black later in the evening.

Victory boss Grant Brebner spoke after his side’s loss to the Jets, suggesting a series of tough discussions were to occur at the club ahead of his side’s meeting with the Phoenix, as he looks to generate a response from his side.

Brebner is hoping to have Marco Rojas at his disposal once more after the attacker’s one-game absence from a facial injury sustained against the Wanderers in Matchweek 7.

Victory have designs to play Rojas with Callum McManaman, Rudy Gestede and Robbie Kruse in the final third; a lethal strike-force on paper which depends on the consistent fitness of all players in the quartet to get going in the 2020/21 campaign.

MATCH REPORT: Melbourne Victory 0-1 Newcastle Jets
REACTION: Brebner demands Victory embrace the pain of horror run to turn season around

Match details

Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
Wednesday, 24 February 2021
Venue: AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEDT
Broadcast: Fox Sports 505
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
Match Centre