Tale of two coaches: Happy Herbert, Frustrated Fergie

Wellington Phoenix boss Ricki Herbert was pleased with his side’s showing to claim a point against Perth Glory last night, but also felt that they could have claimed all three. 

"I’m disappointed we probably didn’t win it," he said.

"I thought we started really bright tonight, two really good chances.

"Away to Perth if you can put them away then it makes the evening a little bit more easier for you.

The last fortnight has provided plenty of challenges for the Phoenix with players on international duty with New Zealand in China and tough away fixtures against Glory and the Newcastle Jets, but Herbert is understandably happy to have picked up four points from those games.

"We’ve travelled well; the owners have done a great job letting us stay for the week," he said.

"That’s to be hugely acknowledged from all of us and it gave us time to settle and work on things that we thought we could exploit, and the two chances we created early were the signs of that.”

When asked about Jeremy Brockie’s purple patch, Herbert quipped “About time isn’t?!” before going on to praise the in-form striker’s ability.

Indeed, Brockie has now scored five of Wellington’s lastsix goals.

Glory, meanwhile, will no doubt be disappointed to have taken just one point from back to back home games against the Nix and the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Coach Ian Ferguson spoke openly afterwards when quizzed about his side’s lacklustre showing.

"I don’t think it was our best performance," said Ferguson.

"Very disappointed overall, getting ourselves into the lead and then we gave away a silly goal and the manner that we defended that was pretty poor."

Ferguson spoke strongly about his side’s inability to hold on to the lead given to them by Smeltz.

"We weren’t consistent enough, I think at times we played some decent football and then there’s times where, again we spoke at half time, the decision making again under no pressure and the turnover of the ball isn’t good enough," he said.

"We seem to put ourselves in a lot of trouble rather than the other team hurting us."

Things don’t get any easier with back to back games in Melbourne against Victory and Heart and Ferguson confirmed that the team will fly back to Perth in between games rather than stay over in the Victorian capital.

With Jacob Burns now suspended and Michael Thwaite and Scott Jamieson called up for the Socceroos, there will be at least three changes to the starting line up next week with Bas Van den Brink and Dean Heffernan set to return from injury.

As for the #BeckhamToPerth campaign, Ferguson doesn’t believe it should have an effect on the club and players.

"I don’t read too much into all that," he said.

"We’ve put an offer to his representatives and whatever happens it’s out of our hands, there’s no use me sitting there, or anybody in the team sitting there, worrying about that until we get an answer.

"No effect at all whatsoever, it shouldn’t impact anybody."