The Nix have found the back of the net nine times over the opening eight rounds of the Ninja A-League season and enter the weekend in seventh place on the ladder, one point outside the top six.
Temple is happy with how his side bounced back after losing their opening three matches, but knows they have to take another step up if they\u2019re to play finals football.
\u201cI want to see us continue to progress in terms of how we\u2019re trying to play,\u201d he told media after training on Friday. \u201cI want to see us scoring more goals.
\u201cWe\u2019re starting to put some good performances in now and we\u2019ve had a good December against some really strong opposition.
\u201cBut I think we\u2019ve still got to find the right balance with the players that we\u2019ve got, to be able to get the best out of them\u2026and play to their strengths.
\u201cWe\u2019re still finding that perfect balance, but what I think is working really well is we\u2019re getting a lot of good impact off the bench from an attacking point of view and that\u2019s helping us in that department.
\u201cThings are progressing there but we still need to focus on the balance, get that right, and there\u2019ll still be some little things we do tactically that I think can make differences in a game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/01\/Team-2024-12-21.jpg?w=1200\")
Temple is happy with how the team has defended since conceding four first half goals in their season opening defeat to Western United. The Nix had a couple of days off after last Saturday\u2019s 2-1 defeat at Melbourne City and returned to training on New Year\u2019s Day. Perth Glory enter the round in ninth place, two points behind Wellington, and are coming off a narrow home defeat to Central Coast Mariners last weekend. And the Phoenix are well aware of Perth\u2019s strengths.
The Phoenix have only let in six goals in their seven matches since, which is the equal best record in the A-League during that period.
\u201cI kind of thing we had to [tighten up at the back]. It was not a pretty 20 minute period, but since then we\u2019ve been pretty good in terms of goals per game conceded.
\u201cAnd we haven\u2019t had any games since that have blown up defensively for us.
\u201cWe\u2019ve definitely rectified that side of things and we\u2019re looking very strong and pressing better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/01\/Paul-Temple-2024-12-21-3.jpg?w=1200\")
Unfortunately, it wasn\u2019t much of a break for a number of players.
\u201cIt was quite crazy, after Melbourne we had a pretty bad virus go through the team so everyone was suffering a little bit.
\u201cBut we\u2019re feeling good now and ready to roll for tomorrow.
\u201cAmelia Abbott has picked up a really minor muscular thing so she\u2019s not available for selection, but outside of that everyone is good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/01\/Ela-Jerez.jpg?w=1200\")
\u201cI think they\u2019d probably say themselves that they\u2019ve been a little bit up and down as well,\u201d Temple said. \u201cThey\u2019ve had some good results and some not so good results.
\u201cBut what I know in this league is it doesn\u2019t matter who you play against, whether you\u2019re home or away, anyone can turn up on the day and beat anyone else.
\u201cIt\u2019s shown that again this season, so we won\u2019t be taking anyone lightly.
\u201cWe\u2019re going out for three points but taking it the same as we do every other game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/01\/Grace-Jale-2.jpg?w=1200\")
\u201cThey can cause you a bit of a threat with balls in behind\u2026and the wide players for them have been creating some good opportunities.
\u201cThey set up to press a little bit high as well, so we\u2019ve got to be wary of that when we build up and how we progress the ball through the pitch.
\u201cIt\u2019s a team that plays a similar system to us so it\u2019s going to be an interesting tactical battle and those individual duels and who wins them are going to be key for the game tomorrow.\u201d
The 10th<\/sup> round Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory is scheduled to kick-off at Porirua Park in Wellington at 4pm Saturday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 3 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ and 10 Play in Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n