Western Sydney Wanderers vs Wellington Phoenix – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | A-League 2021-22

Simon Cox of Western Sydney Wanderers-Josh Brindell-South of Brisbane Roar
Simon Cox of Western Sydney Wanderers-Josh Brindell-South of Brisbane Roar | Photo Credit: IMAGO

Western Sydney Wanderers and Wellington Phoenix will square up this Thursday in the rearranged 16th round fixture of the 2021/22 A-League season. 

Venue: CommBank Stadium (Sydney)

Key Statistics

Western Sydney Wanderers have won just one of their last eight games in all competitions (five draws and two losses).

The 28 goals they have scored in the league this season is the third-lowest in the league after 24 games.

They have scored just 14 goals at home this season. Only Perth Glory (six) have scored fewer home goals.

Wellington Phoenix have scored just 12 goals away from home this season. Only Brisbane Roar (10) have scored fewer goals. 

The visitors have also conceded the most goals in the league this season (46 goals).

Head to head

Wellington Phoenix have the superior record in recent meetings between both sides, winning six of the last ten head-to-head meetings while losing three times and drawing once. 

Latest performances in all competitions

Wellington Phoenix: D-L-W-D-D

Wellington Phoenix: L-W-L-W-W

WS Wanderers 

WS Wanderers will look to pick up just their second win in nine games when they welcome Wellington Phoenix to Western Sydney this Thursday.

The hosts were beaten 1-0 by none other than Wellington Phoenix two matchdays ago, before following that up with a 1-1 draw against Perth Glory last time out.

As a result, they come into this tie sitting in tenth place, with their chance of qualifying for the playoffs gone.

They have taken just 26 points from 24 league games this season, with 17 of those coming at home. This means that 70.8% of their total points tally this season have come in their home games. This is backed up by the fact that they are unbeaten in their last six home games.   

And so, they will come into this fixture with a high chance of winning and avenging their 1-0 loss to their visitors a fortnight ago. 

Possible WS Wanderers starting line-up

Tomas Mejias; Tomislav Mrcela, John Koutroumbis, Thomas Aquilina, Adama Traore; Steven Ugarkovic, Terry Antonis, Ramy Najjarine; James Troisi, Dimitri Petratos, Tomer Hemed.

Injured: Vedran Janjetovic, Rhys Williams

Doubtful: None 

Suspended: None 

Wellington Phoenix

Wellington Phoenix will look to .seal their place in the top six when they face WS Wanderers on Thursday.

The visitors come into this tie sitting in sixth, four points ahead of seventh-placed Macarthur FC with two games to play. So all they need to do in this game is win and they will book their place in the quarter-finals of the final series.

And given that they lost their last game to Melbourne Victory (3-1) they will also be desperate to get back to winning ways to ensure that their fine work this season does not go unrewarded. 

Possible Wellington Phoenix starting line-up

Alex Paulsen; Sam Sutton, Joshua Laws, Tim Payne, Scott Wootton; Nicholas Pennington, Louis Fenton, Walter Sandoval, Jaushua Sotirio; Ben Waine, David Ball.

Injured: Alex Rufer, Clayton Lewis

Doubtful: None   

Suspended: None

Prediction

WS Wanderers 1-1 Wellington Phoenix