Wellington Phoenix’s push for the A-League playoffs has just been made that little bit tougher with their game against Brisbane Roar likely to be rescheduled for January 26.
Wellington were due to play Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday but the devastating floods that have hit the Queensland capital and surrounds and submerged the pitch at the stadium meant the fixture had to be postponed.
The expected new date for the clash with the runaway league leaders means the Phoenix now face a midweek away trip to play the Roar sandwiched between home fixtures against Perth Glory (January 23) and Newcastle Jets (January 30).
A similar scenario will be repeated the following week when they travel to Adelaide United (February 5) and Sydney (February 9) before rounding out the regular season at home to North Queensland Fury on February 13.
“It’s obviously not ideal. Not only are we going to have to play home, away, home then we’re on the road again for two away games and then back again,” Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert said.
“It makes it a pretty tough schedule for us. But it’s extraordinary circumstances and you look at what’s a priority and it’s not good what’s happened across the Tasman.”
Wellington’s offer to host the match at Westpac Stadium this Sunday was turned down by Football Federation Australia as and Herbert argued it was “debatable” whether the January 26 date was the only solution to the problem.
“But our thoughts are with the people of Brisbane, let’s be honest about that. It (dealing with the flooding) is a massive priority and football in that context comes behind that,” he said.
“But when you look at it from a football point of view it’s become a very, very tough ask for us now at the back end of the season.”
Even given the amount of football the Phoenix will play over two short periods of time, Herbert ruled out the possibility of rotating his players for any other reason than form and injury, especially for the away trip to Brisbane.
“I guess on one hand you’re hoping to get the points at home but you’re throwing up the white flag away from home (if you rest players) and I’m not sure that’s a profile the club wants to have,” he said.
“I think we’re just going to have to grind this one out.”
Herbert also criticised North Queensland Fury coach Franz Straka for adopting his revolving door policy, particularly after playoff rivals Newcastle Jets were able to force their way into the top six after defeating the Fury on Tuesday night.
“I just think for a club that doesn’t know its destiny and has written off the season already I think that’s incredibly disappointing,” Herbert said.
“But those are questions for them to answer.
“I think everybody has a moral obligation to put out their best possible team.”
While appreciating a couple of extra days rest, defender Tony Lochhead, who has just returned to action after 12 weeks off following groin surgery, admitted the players had mixed feeling about having the unexpected time off.
“It’s good to have a bit of a weekend off but it’s going to be tough the next week with three games packed in there,” he said.
“(It’s going to make the push for the playoffs harder) and we’ve struggled on the road so to have a road game thrown in the middle (of two home games) is going to make it tough.
“But we’ve got to go in there and work hard and hopefully we can get the results.”
