In-form Sydney FC midfielder Terry McFlynn says his side can ill-afford to take the bottom-placed Phoenix lightly ahead of Sunday’s Hyundai A-League clash in Wellington.
The undefeated Sky Blues head across the Tasman full of confidence on the back of their clinical 3-0 defeat of Adelaide United last start.
But with the memories of their recent Pre-Season Cup defeat at the hands of Ricki Herbert’s men still fresh, the Northern Irishman insists complacency won’t be a factor this weekend.
“I think their league position doesn’t really reflect the sort of side they are,” McFlynn said.
“They’re a hard working side and they’ll work for each other and especially at home there’s going to be a certain amount of pressure on them to try and get a result.”
“But we’ll just approach the game the way we approach every game, in a professional manner, and we’re determined to go in and get points.”
With the arrival of former Newcastle Jet Stuart Musialik this season, McFlynn, who enjoyed stints at English clubs Queens Park Rangers, Woking and Margate before linking with the Sydney siders for the inaugural A-league campaign, has had to adjust.
And as evidenced by his second-minute wonder strike against the Reds, the industrious 27-year-old has embraced his new found freedom.
“My role has changed a bit, I get a bit more forward now supporting the front four if you like in John Aloisi, Steve Corica, Mark Bridge and Alex Brosque and then obviously helping out in the midfield as well when needed,” he said.
“I’m really enjoying the role getting back and doing my defensive duties and getting forward and getting a few chances which don’t normally come my way.”
Asked to rate Sydney’s chances this season, McFlynn said the glamour club has finally recaptured its mojo after two lean years.
“I think as there was in the first season there’s a real belief throughout the whole squad that we can go on and win it,” he said.
“We’ve just got that belief going into every game that we’re not going to get beaten.”
“Another thing that was maybe lacking in season two and the early party of season three was the hunger, I think we’ve got the hunger back going into games.”
“We’re determined to beat teams and when we get our noses in front we’re killing teams off.”
