A-League: Wellington Phoenix thrash Brisbane Roar 4-1

Beleaguered Brisbane coach John Aloisi is fighting for his job after the Roar’s disastrous A-League season continued at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night.

Wellington Phoenix’s Steven Taylor hugs teammate Tom Doyle while Sarpreet Singh and Alex Rufer also celebrate after the Roar’s own goal put the Phoenix ahead. Picture: Getty Images

Updated: Beleaguered Brisbane coach John Aloisi is fighting for his job after the Roar’s disastrous A-League season continued at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night.

The Roar were thrashed 4-1 by Wellington Phoenix, with the humiliating defeat their fourth successive loss.

And it’s not going to get any easier for Brisbane, with heavyweights Sydney FC awaiting them at Jubilee Stadium next Saturday.

Brisbane’s cause wasn’t helped through the suspension of marquee man Eric Bautheac and the late withdrawal of key midfielder Stefan Mauk, who again succumbed to a groin injury.

However, the absence of Bautheac and Mauk was no excuse for a performance largely devoid of any substance in attack and a display again littered with ordinary defending.

The Roar have now conceded eight goals in their past two matches.

Wellington Phoenix’s Steven Taylor hugs teammate Tom Doyle while Sarpreet Singh and Alex Rufer also celebrate after the Roar’s own goal put the Phoenix ahead. Picture: Getty Images

If not for the presence of Central Coast Mariners, whose current side is arguably the worst team in A-League history, Brisbane would be rock bottom, and deservedly so such is their current form.

A ninth successive finals appearance seems beyond the Roar in their current state, with Aloisi – Brisbane’s longest serving coach – under immense scrutiny.

“The pressure is the pressure that I’m putting on myself,” Aloisi said.

“I’m disappointed, of course I am. As a head coach, you have to always take responsibility, and I do.

“I’m just really upset about the way we lost today … to give away four goals like we did is not good enough.

Brisbane Roar players celebrate Henrique’s (centre) goal on Saturday.

“There are no excuses about players being injured. We still have to perform with the players we’ve got out there.”

Roar managing director David Pourre told The Sunday Mail he was disappointed for the club’s fans and members.

“We need to prepare for next week’s game, which is even more important now,” Pourre said.

While it’s doom and gloom for the Roar, it’s the opposite for the Phoenix, who secured a third win on the trot thanks to goals from Roy Krishna, substitute David Williams and Sarpreet Singh, as well as own goal from Roar defender Avraam Papadopoulos.

The Phoenix took a deserved lead in the 35th minute when an attempted clearing header from defender Jack Hingert hit the head of Papadopoulos, with the ball looping over poorly positioned goalkeeper Jamie Young and into the net.

Tobias Mikkelsen of the Roar (left) and Liberato Cacace of the Phoenix compete for the ball on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

The Roar equalised in first-half stoppage time with a sweet Henrique finish from a Hingert cross.

The visitors should have gone ahead six minutes in the second stanza but a heavy touch from striker Adam Taggart let him down when he seemed certain to score.

The Phoenix soon regained control of the contest, with former Roar prodigy Williams firing the hosts back into the lead in the 75th minute.

Worse was to come for the Roar, with Krishna increasing the Phoenix’s lead to 3-1 from the penalty spot in the 80th minute after a clumsy Young fouled Tom Doyle.

The humiliation was completed in stoppage time when a Singh free-kick went through a two-man Brisbane wall and into the bottom corner of the net.

WELLINGTON PHOENIX 4 (Avram Papadopoulos 35m og, David Williams 75m, Roy Krishna 80m pen, SarpreetSingh 90+3m) BRISBANE ROAR 1 ( Henrique 45+1m) at Westpac Stadium. Referee: Kurt Ams.

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